Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

October 1, 2022

CHARLOTTE – John A. Knorr, member of the prolific Knorr family of Whitehall and long-time attorney for the accused, passed away Saturday, October 1, 2022.

John graduated from St. Elizabeth High School and went on to University of Notre Dame where he studied Theology.  In his junior year, he broke the heart of his friend and mentor, Provost James Burtchaell, when he announced he wanted to be a lawyer, not a theologian.  Fr. Burtchaell advised him, “John, the job of the Christian is to touch hearts.  The law deals with the shell
after the heart has been broken”.  Undeterred, John set off to Duquesne Law School to become a lawyer who would touch hearts.  He took on challenging cases, saving the lives of several facing death and solving client’s problems with care for the human behind the problem.  

John loved the game of golf.  Few things made him happier than to see a little white ball fly against the backdrop of a clear blue sky.  In 1974, he joined Oakmont Country Club where he honed his game and deepened his respect for the tradition of the sport.  At Oakmont, he served as the Chairman of the Greens Committee and as a Board Member.  He relished these opportunities
to maintain the high standards of the course and advocate for essential change including the need for a diverse and inclusive membership.

John’s father taught him a love of gardening.  He spent hours creating beautiful flower gardens at his home, the garden at St. Mary of the Mount, and building gardens in his daughter’s homes.  His daughters recall no greater joy than standing by his side and unpacking the day while they
watered his flowers.  He divided many plants to share with them that originated in his father’s yard and they now pass on to friends.

John was steadfast in his Catholic faith having served as an altar boy in his early life.  He loved to attend mass and began each day reading his prayers.  During quarantine, he would hold an unofficial daily mass with his granddaughters where everyone would take a reading and a child- selected snack would serve as communion.  When his eyesight waned recently, his daughter, Amy, would call him each morning to read the gospel with him, where he would often comment, “Ooh, that was a good one.”

He loved the institution of marriage, he joked that he loved it so much he did it three times.  In 1971, he married Carol Cashion Lassiter, the mother of his daughters, who helped care for him in his final years; in 1983, he married Eileen Lucas Cortez; and in 2004, he married Deborah Wolak Knorr.

Perhaps his greatest gift was the gift of parenting.  He raised two adoring daughters, Amy and Melissa.  He instilled in them the obligation to create the world you want to live in. 

John is survived by his daughters, Amy Corinne Knorr of Harrisonburg, Virginia and C. Melissa  “Missy” Owen and her husband, Geoffrey of Charlotte, NC; his granddaughters, Caroline and Mary Owen of Charlotte, NC.  Also surviving are his four sisters, whom he loved, Betsy Takacs and her husband, Wayne, Lynn Vietmeier and her husband, Dave, Mary Dee Walsh and her husband, Rege and Maureen Bidaman and her husband, Mike.  He was preceded in death by his brothers, Jimmy Knorr and Eddie Knorr.  Leaving as survivors their wives, Cindee Knorr and Linda Knorr.  He also leaves behind his long-time friend and dedicated paralegal, Robin Traficante. 

His family would like to thank each and every caregiver at Summit Place of South Park who treated him like family.

A private service will be held in Charlotte where he lived in recent years.  A celebration of life will be held in Pittsburgh at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of John to the NACDL Foundation for  Criminal Justice, 1660 L Street NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20036 or https://members.nacdl.org/donate-now/?action=edit&id=757653da-30b0-e611-9407-0003ff6824c5.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.