John F. Llewellyn, chairman of the board of directors of Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks and Mortuaries (Glendale), died April 6, 2022, at age 74. Throughout his career, Llewellyn continued and fortified the legacy of Forest Lawn’s founder, Dr. Hubert Eaton, his great-uncle, as well as the legacy of his father, Frederick Llewellyn, whom he succeeded. Formally starting at Forest Lawn in 1972, he was known for his care and attention to park clients and employees alike. Deeply committed to ethical business practices and employee well-being, he supported inclusive and affordable healthcare for Forest Lawn employees.
In addition, he helped shepherd the organization into the digital age, bringing many aspects of the business online and encouraging use of the most up-to-date technology. Under his leadership as general manager and president from 1988 to 2010, Forest Lawn’s management and governance was restructured and strengthened so it could operate more efficiently and effectively. The board appointed Llewellyn chairman in 2011.
A graduate of the University of Redlands with a major in economics, Llewellyn received an MBA from the University of Southern California. Active in numerous industry associations, Llewellyn served as president of the American Cemetery Association (now ICCFA) and the Interment Association of California (now CMAC). He also wrote three books about the funeral and cemetery industries: A Cemetery Should be Forever, for industry leaders; Saying Goodbye Your Way, which aimed to demystify and guide the funeral and burial process for readers; and Birth of a Cemetery, chronicling the early years of Forest Lawn.
Among his many civic interests and passions, Llewellyn served as a hospital, university and foundation trustee. He also served on the board of directors of more than two dozen nonprofit organizations, including the Braille Institute of America, the Los Angeles Area Council – Boy Scouts of America (he was an Eagle Scout), the Employers Group and the Los Angeles Visitors and Convention Bureau. He also served as a director of various for-profit enterprises.
“John brought a wealth of industry experience, passion and great judgment to his role as chairman of our board,” said Darin B. Drabing, Forest Lawn president and CEO. “He was a wonderful supporter of our management team, a great friend to many employees and an active volunteer in our local communities. He will be deeply missed.”
Llewellyn is survived by wife Carol, daughter Sharon, son-in-law Dan Clark and one grandson.