John Daniel Hefner was born to Dolores Sharp and John Hefner in Knoxville, Tennessee on April 12, 1946. John passed away after a short illness at his Bakersfield home on January 3, 2021. At a young age, John moved to Bakersfield in 1960 with his mother and step-father Marvin Chesler. John graduated from North High School, Bakersfield College and then UCLA in 1968 and was immediately hired by the Bakersfield City School District. He stayed for ten years, teaching general education, special and gifted education gifted and designing curriculum. Johntook time to develop strong relationships with students, teachers and principals. He was always a sports lover and started a boxing program for students. In August of 1977, John began his 30 -year career as Principal of Fruitvale Jr. High School. During this time, the school was recognized four times as a California Distinguished School and as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. John was a hands on principal, coaching students in speech contests, spelling bees, math competitions, and History Field Day. He never missed an event, a performance, a competition, anything that was important to "his kids." His energy surpassed all those around him, he knew every student byname and he knew those that needed an extra dose of compassion. His students won many local, state, and national competitions in History Field Day and because of John, Fruitvale Jr. High became known as a powerhouse at the National History Day competition. John was recognized as California History Educator of the Year in 2001 and Principal of the Year in 2004. He retired from Fruitvale in June 2007 after over 39 years in education. John became involved with the Bakersfield Sister City Project at the age of 19as one of two students selected for the first student exchange between Bakersfield and Wakayama, Japan. This experience would have a profound impact on his life. Years later in 1997, John led a group of over one hundred chorus, orchestra, & drama students from Fruitvale & Norris Junior High School son a visit to Wakayama. John was later elected as Vice President of the Sister City project in 2009 and then elected President in 2012. Over the years, John visited all the sister cities numerous times: Wakayama, Japan; Minsk, Belarus; Cixi, China; Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico; Bucheon, South Korea; and Amritsar, India. John's last Sister City trip was in 2019 when he took students from Fruitvale Junior High School to visit Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France. Later that year, students from France visited Bakersfield. Also, through John's leadership, the Sister City Gardens Festival in Bakersfield was established. From all these activities, John was honored to receive Bakersfield's 'Key to the City' in 2016 from then-Mayor Harvey Hall. We all knew at that point it was John who was truly Bakersfield's unofficial Mayor. John was a mentor to students, future educators and administrators. His life exemplified how important it was to treat others well, that academics were not the only important lessons of school, that you never, ever stop, and at the end of the day, it is always and forever about people. These characteristics endeared him to thousands of students, parents, co-workers and community leaders; they knew that John Hefner was a loyal friend to all he met. Outdoor graveside service is scheduled on Thursday January 14, 2021, 2:30pm at Greenlawn Cemetery, 3700 River Blvd, Bakersfield. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Fruitvale Education Foundation/John Hefner Scholarships and mail to 7311 Rosedale Highway, Bakersfield CA 93308.