Newport, NH – John Andrew Hastings passed away at the age of 64 peacefully in his home on Dec 28, after a short illness. He was born in Newport on May 15, 1960 to Richard and Joan Hastings. He was raised in Marlboro Mass. He graduated in 1978 from Assabet Valley Regional Vocational High School where he developed his talent of welding and it became his trade. He had a childhood passion for model building of cars and a lifelong love for dirt-bike motorcycling and watching drag and auto racing. He graduated from Manchester Vocation Technical College in Manchester, NH in 1980 where he continued his education of welding.
After meeting and marrying his wife Rebecca (Bailey) Hastings in 1984, he moved to NH and worked at various welding jobs including General Electric. After being laid off from General Electric, he decided to go for a mechanical engineering degree at NH Technical Institute in Concord, NH and graduated in 1993. While there, he also found a passion for solar cars, and participated for 3 years in the solar car races in New England.
Another of his many passions, was roller coaster ride designing, when he was hired as a draftsman at O.D. Hopkins of Contoocook NH. He followed his boss Alan Croteau from Hopkins, working for Flagship Business Enterprises. They had become fast friends. In pursuit of another of his passions, photography, he worked with Hal Johnson Photography.
Working as a detailer for Multi Weld Services in Contoocook, NH, he worked on several projects for the government and helped with the refurbishing of the Lake Queen on Sunapee Lake. His boss is a college classmate and one of his best friends from Manchester.
Upon his father’s passing, he inherited his grandfather’s 1965 GMC Pickup truck that he restored and enjoyed participating in the parades and car shows throughout New England.
He was a member of the Newport Photography Club, an active participant in the Car Nutz, and was president of the trustees for the Church of the Good Shepherd, United Methodist Church in Newport. NH.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, two brothers Robert James Hastings of Punta Santago, Puerto Rico and his wife Keishya Salko, and Timothy Mark Hastings of Weare, NH. An Uncle Robert Hastings and his wife “Trinka” of Fairhope Alabama. Several In-Laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by both parents.
Service will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church on Saturday January 4, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (COTGS-UMC) and mailed to P.O. Box 715, Newport, NH 03773.