Playing the guitar
Celebrating the Life of

John Allen Cassady

A keeper of the Beat Generation Legacy

Photos & Memories

Obituary

John Allen CassadySeptember 9, 1951—October 28, 2026

Musician, writer and cultural historian John Allen Cassady passed peacefully on October 28, 2026 in Eugene, Oregon.

He was born in San Francisco, California to artist and writer Carolyn Robinson Cassady and Beat Generation icon Neal Cassady. He was named for two close family friends, author Jack Kerouac and poet Allen Ginsberg.

He spent his earliest years in a home on E. Santa Clara Street in San Jose. When John was three, the Cassadys moved to Monte Sereno to a home where Kerouac, authors Ken Kesey and John Clellon Holmes and the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia were visitors. He attended Saratoga schools and developed a love for music and the counterculture unfolding around him.

John worked for the Caere Corp., a pioneering producer of optical character recognition software and document scanning systems, for more than 20 years.

He was married twice and, in 1975, welcomed son Jamie Neal.

John traveled England to care for his mom in her later years, and after returning to the states, appeared frequently at Beat Generation events and bus rides..

He was predeceased by his parents, Carolyn and Neal, and his sister Jami Cassady Ratto, who died in January.

Survivors include sister Cathy, son Jamie, daughter-in-law Michelle Quinet Cassady, niece Becky Locatelli, nephew Bill Horbaly and John’s grandchildren, Cody and Carly.

Guestbook

“John and Dan Pulcrano came over for my 48th birthday. Loved getting to know him. We had some whiskey and played guitar together for hours and he shared a lot of his rich life of stories and friendships. Rest easy, John.”
Wedge · Friend
“Many unforgettable ones…”
Vimala · ExGF
“John and Jamie were our neighbors in Scotts Valley for a while in the 80’s. They became close family friends, not just neighbors to me and my mom, Sara. I remember John teaching me piano (said I had good timing) and making some really good chili. I loved swimming at Grandmas pool in Monte Sereno with Jamie. Picking plums in our shared yards. John was a very warm and musical person. He was almost like a father figure to me. Great childhood memories. I’m sorry we lost touch and sad to hear of his passing. Sending much love out to the family. Here’s a pic of me and Jamie eating those plums 💜”
Thea Shaw · Friend
“I shared some memories on Facebook already and saw this forum and thought I’d throw one more memory. John had a girlfriend named Vimala lol. Never forget that name. I remember him having his guitar in that front room over at their house on Inglis way. I don’t remember if it was Clifton or one of us knocked over the guitar and busted a string or something. John loved that guitar.. I remember us concocting a story to blame it on Vimala. When John was discovering this, I could still hear his voice “Jamie are you sure it wasn’t Brian?” Jamie like the true friend no dad I think it was Vimala. Anyways, I tell the story because as I’m recalling the details from almost 35years ago I can still hear John’s voice. RIP Mr Cassidy..”
Bryan Whipple · Jamie’s friend John forbid him to hang with😎