John Jay Witmer, 70, of Quarryville, PA, passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, May 15, 2025. John was the son of Norman and Mary Cover Witmer and a proud graduate of Hempfield High School, Class of 1972. John was a devoted husband of almost 40 years to Miriam Witmer, a proud father to Marissa Witmer, and a best friend to many four-legged companions over the years.

John lived life with a wrench in one hand and a punchline in the other. He was never far from a car show, a tennis court, or a cleverly sarcastic comment. Whether as a former manager at Musselman Jewelers or Salesman of the Year at Autohaus in 1984, John’s charisma, business sense, and sharp wit left a lasting impression. But it was through AIC Auto Sales, his beloved classic car business, that he truly found his calling. Known by many simply as “the Porsche Guru,” John restored and curated classic Porsches and other niche vehicles with the kind of reverence usually reserved for museum artifacts – except his exhibits had horsepower.

A man of many passions, John was an avid tennis player and national USTA competitor, a skilled marksman, and a decorated autocross racer who earned the prestigious Wigglesworth Award multiple times. He was a long-standing member and former Director of the Central Pennsylvania Porsche Club of America. His garage doubled as both an autocross prep zone and a shrine to all things fast, loud, and lovingly maintained. He loved Harley-Davidson motorcycles almost as much as he loved converting his family into a Harley crew – matching gear and all.

Fluent in sarcasm and proudly known as “JW” to close friends and family, John had a knack for turning even the most mundane moment into a laugh, and you always knew where he stood on issues. His wardrobe was a joyful riot of graphic tees and wild prints, and his presence guaranteed mischief, humor, and a quick one-liner delivered with perfect timing.

He was a dedicated founder and vice president of Celebration for Life Inc., a nonprofit raising funds for the fight against cancer. He took pride in cooking countless pigs for Camp Can-Do, a camp for children with cancer. John also found immense joy in cooking his specialty paella, and serving his “famous” Pork and Sauerkraut Good Luck Feasts to friends and family on New Year’s Day,

Music filled his life too – from beloved local band Trilogy, to Pink Floyd, Coldplay, and Radiohead blasting from the garage speakers while he polished a Porsche to perfection. But above all, His love was fierce, his loyalty unwavering, and his ability to fix – be it an engine or a bad day – unmatched.

John is survived by Miriam and Marissa, as well as a wide circle of lifetime friends, former teammates, and customers who became like family. He was preceded in death by his older brother, Barry Witmer, with whom we’re sure he’s now swapping stories and toasting a life well lived.

A celebration of John’s life and visitation with the family will be held on Wednesday, May 21st 6:00 – 8:00PM at Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home, (2421 Willow Street Pike). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Celebration for Life, Inc., at https://www.c4life.org/donate/, honoring John’s passion for helping Camp Can Do Forever children smile, even on their hardest days.

His legacy lives on – in every classic Porsche he cherished, every autocross course he dominated, and every laugh that rings out when someone remembers John’s wit.

Memories of John’s exploits on the autocross track at HersheyPark: