John Sievers Ekdahl, 47, passed away Feb. 11, 2026, at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He quietly and bravely fought his way through cancer treatment to the very end.
Born May 28, 1978, in Rumson, John was a proud graduate of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, Class of 1996. An accomplished high school wrestler and soccer player, he went on to attend the University of New Hampshire. In 2010, John found his home in Florida, where his genius for friendship brought together a close-knit group from all over the United States and the world. The sight of John sauntering down the beach with a chair, a cooler and a fishing rod will be missed all over St. John’s County.
John’s purpose was his family, and he will be remembered as a devoted husband and father. He is survived by his beloved wife, Amy, and their two children, daughter Quinn and son Declan; parents, Mary Lynne and John E. Ekdahl; and brother, Daniel. John was predeceased by his grandparents, Florence and John F. Ekdahl, and Doris and Matthew E. McCarthy, and his infant brother, Joseph.
John was a natural engineer. He turned this into a successful career as a website designer, working in many fields, including sports. He was a tinkerer, enjoying nothing more than installing the latest technology in his home and finding out exactly how it worked. On the side, John had a hobby as a conservative political commentator. He had over 50,000 followers on X and was widely regarded as funny and incisive.
Beyond these accomplishments, John found great joy in following his favorite teams, the New York Yankees and the Jacksonville Jaguars, and sharing that passion with those around him. As much as anything else, John was an evangelist for his chosen franchises, happy at any point to talk to anyone about strategy, history or the finer points of the game.
May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him and continue to inspire all who were touched by his life. A funeral Mass was held Feb. 20 at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Ponte Vedra Beach.
The article originally appeared in the February 26 – March 4, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
