John Francis (Jack) Cannon of Falls Church, Virginia, a longtime US government diplomat and information specialist, died on June 24, 2025 after a brief illness. He was 89.
Mr. Cannon was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, the son of Francis and Marie Cannon. A graduate of the Class of 1957 at Boston College, he majored in English and later took graduate courses in journalism. After working as a news editor for WBZ-TV in Boston, he signed on with Armed Forces Radio & TV Network and the Voice of America, then pursued a lengthy career in the US Information Agency (USIA), serving time as a press officer in Vietnam.
As a USIA foreign service officer, Mr. Cannon traveled the world with his family, assuming posts in Bangkok, Thailand; Seoul, South Korea; London; Vancouver, BC; and Perth, Australia. In London, he undertook diplomatic duties in the US Embassy, one of which included traveling with Secretary of State Cyrus Vance to Peking on a trip aimed at normalizing relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.
In Perth, as the director of Public Affairs for USIA, he planned and directed a wide array of press, TV, radio, and publications programs. And during his time as a State Department spokesman, Mr. Cannon made headlines worldwide when, in January 1981, he announced the return by Iran of the 52 U.S. hostages it was holding in Tehran.
Upon retiring from USIA, he served as public relations director for the University of San Diego.
Mr. Cannon, who was known for his unwavering interest in politics and current events and his passion for foreign travel and cuisine, leaves three sons, Mark (Emi), of Santa Monica, CA, Theodore (Beth), of Van Nuys, CA, and David (Shelly), of Los Angeles, CA; a daughter, Diane Donohoe (Richard), of McLean, VA; his former wife, Dorothy Madden Cannon, of Mashpee, MA; and 10 grandchildren.
