The untimely August 5 death of John Thomas Faloon has left Ajijic with an irreparable void and deep sense of loss among the many people who cherished one the community’s most prominent and endearing long-time foreign residents.
Better known to pals by his nickname Tomás, he was a spirited character who spoke fluent Spanish, assimilated local customs and treasured all aspects of Mexican culture, qualities that tended to infect other expats with a deep appreciation for their adopted country.
Faloon was born on January 30, 1943 in New York City, where he spent his early childhood and youth. He enrolled in Rutgers University in 1960, venturing off to Florence, Italy the following year to study art. He continued studies at the University of Mississippi before breaking out of conventional American life to seek his fortunes as a working artist.
In 1970, Faloon arrived in Ajijic with wife Shannon and two infant daughters, finding an enticing environment to settle down, raise his kids and pursue his artistic passions. It was a place where he easily fit in with his Mexican neighbors and likewise found a creative niche in the tight circle of young-blood foreign artists, writers and hippy-era freaks who settled at lakeside in that era.
Ajijic contractor Miguel Ramírez Rochín recalls getting to know Faloon as a teenager when the newcomer extranjeros bought and moved into a village house set right across the street from his family’s home on Encarnación Rosas.
His younger sisters soon became playmates with the Faloon girls. A tighter bond developed between the two families after his aunt Chuy was hired as the Faloons’ housekeeper and his father was recruited to help remodel their new homestead.
Please login or subscribe to view the complete article.
{access !public}It was that rebuilding experience that spurred Faloon into applying his creative talents to home design, taking him on a brilliant career path that lasted the rest of his life. As the expatriate community grew by leaps and bounds over the next three decades, Faloon gained a reputation as the area’s unrivaled master in turning old village abodes into magnificent dwellings distinguished by a perfect blend of modern conveniences and traditional Mexican materials. Ramirez grew up to learn at his elbow and eventually take over from his dad as foreman for remodeling and building jobs.
“He liked to incorporate hand-made elements and unique techniques: ceramic tiles, iron work, antique doors and windows, detailing in native stone and tinted cement finishes. He had a magical touch with colors that became his trademark,” Ramirez says.
”He employed the town’s best craftsmen, giving them an opportunity to flaunt their talents and eke out a decent living. He came up with original design concepts that sometimes mystified the workmen. We called his unconventional ideas las locuras de Tomás. He was an artist and a dreamer who inspired us all.”
Beyond his professional life, Faloon was an extrovert who thrived on human interaction. His ample circle of friends and admirers ranged from humble villagers to upper crust Guadalajara socialites and the full gamut of fellow expats who crossed his path.
Deeply sensitive to the needs of others and generous to a fault, he was someone people could always count on to provide relief in circumstances of distress. He was known for lending financial and moral support to countless local families who were struggling to put their offspring through school or facing medical crises or needing help to bury a loved one.
Faloon was also an ardent nature and animal lover whose vibrant home ambience was enhanced by lush tropical plants, exotic birds and a bevy of beloved canine pets.
An avid collector of antiques and folk art, he turned his distinctive residence into an eclectic showcase for handsome furniture, priceless decorative pieces of diverse origin and a huge array of hand-crafted works acquired through extensive travels throughout Mexico and abroad. Naturally, he became a stalwart patron of lakeside’s annual Feria Maestros del Arte, regularly hosting visiting artisans and puting in time as a well-versed, bilingual volunteer.
Faloon is survived by his daughters Sara Galen Acar of Washington, D.C. and Alexandra Crooks Conover and spouse William of Guilford, Connecticut; grandsons William, Zachary and Joseph Conover, and Dylan, Oliver and Shannon Acar; former wife Shannon Rodes, cousins Courtland, Ben and John Hazelton and his devoted life partner for 38 years, Carlos Rodriguez Miranda. He also leaves behind scores of beloved godchildren, close friends and fond acquaintances who will surely gravitate to his burial plot at the Ajijic cemetery to honor and celebrate his memory on the Day of Dead.