Dr. John Michael Pino, 63, passed away Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital after a long, quiet battle with cancer. John was an optometrist in Lebanon for many years and continued to see patients as long as his health allowed. In the past few years, he had become certified in treating people with low vision and took great pleasure in helping patients with complicated vision conditions see their world as clearly as possible.
John attended Tennessee High School in Bristol; Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville; and Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. In addition to his optometrist’s degree, John had a PhD in nutrition. His rigorous focus on clean eating, along with an active lifestyle, kept him healthy and strong, even though the cancer remained. He enjoyed traveling and had even planned a family trip to Italy next fall.
John never missed an opportunity to talk about his faith. He embraced life fully with a positive attitude. He loved God most of all, followed closely by his family, his friends, and his patients.
John is preceded in death by his father, Pete Pino, and his brother-in-law, Jim Smith. He is survived by his wife, Marie (Ree) Pino; two sons, Tyler (Hannah) Pino of Dickson and Ryan (Yiyi) of Boston, Mass.; his mother, Bonnie Pino; his sister, Andrea (Tom) Scobie and niece, Sarah, of Franklin; mother-in-law, Jackie McClain of Lebanon; and sister-in-law, Betsi Smith of Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
A celebration of life will take place Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 4 p.m., with visitation from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. at Sellars Funeral Home, 313 W. Baddour Pkwy. in Lebanon. Flowers are welcome, or donations can be made to Samaritan’s Purse.
Sellars Funeral Home, Lebanon TN, 615.444.9393.
