Beloved Finley educator dies after 50 years of service. ‘He didn’t know how to sit still’

A longtime River View High School administrator, beloved by his community for his tricks, jokes and dedication toward student athletics, died Feb. 29 in Kennewick.

John Doran Jr. was 79.

Doran was a giant in the Finley community. He lived in the area 75 years and worked 50 years as the high school’s vice principal and athletic director. He also coached softball.

“Mr. Doran is definitely an icon in the Finley community and we are definitely going to miss him,” Superintendent Bryan Long told the Tri-City Herald.

His dedication to education and youth athletics was recognized when River View High School named its gymnasium for him.

“When John wasn’t at work or school, he could be found playing men’s softball or officiating softball or baseball. He didn’t know how to sit still,” reads his obituary.

Doran was born in Colfax and graduated in 1963 from Columbia High School in Burbank, where he excelled at sports.

He attended Columbia Basin College in Pasco first and then Eastern Washington College, where he played starting offensive guard and kicker on the college’s 1967 national championship football team. He went on to earn a master’s in education from Eastern.

Doran came home to Burbank to teach for a while, but found his home across the river a short time later and began teaching at River View High School in 1974.

“He attended just about every home and away sports game ever, often with his good friend Larry Ayres, even in the years after he retired,” said the obituary. “His love for the school and students had an undeniable impact over the years, and he never seemed to forget a face — even years later — anytime he ran into them in town.”

One of his life-long passions was telling a good joke or playing a harmless trick on someone.

His family says he was “so humbled and proud” when, in 2006, the school chose to name its gym after him. He finally retired from the school district in summer 2018.

He died Feb. 29 in Kennewick and a celebration of life is set for 1 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at the John Doran Gymnasium at River View High School, 36509 South Lemon Drive.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kathy Battershell-Doran.

Mueller’s Tri-Cities Funeral Home in Kennewick is handling his funeral arrangements.