Sunday, April 20, 2025
John Kanaras, the owner of the Baldwin Coach Diner and an active member of the community, died on March 3, at age 62.
Kanaras had a familial connection to the diner long before he became its owner. The Baldwin Coach has been a local fixture since 1938, and John’s father, Peter Kanaras, became an owner in 1964, with partners Tommy Mathews and George Tsotos. After Peter’s death in March 2019, John stepped in to continue the family’s legacy, ensuring that the diner remained a welcoming place for the community.
Beyond his role as a business owner, Kanaras was known for his kindness and generosity. Baldwinites remember him not just as the man behind the diner, but also as a friend who created a space where families, neighbors and visitors always felt at home.
Naresh Singh, president of the Baldwin Lions Club, remembers Kanaras as a dedicated supporter of the organization, and also as someone who embodied the spirit of community service. Singh reflected on Kanaras’s generosity and the vital role he played in revitalizing the club — which had dwindle in membership after the pandemic — from providing meeting space at the diner to ensuring the success of its first major fundraiser.
“John gave the Baldwin Lions Club more than just his time — he gave us a place to call home,” Singh said. “Thanks to him, we were able to hold our monthly meetings at his diner, which became the foundation of so many of our club’s successes. It was there that we held our first successful fundraiser after the club’s reinstatement — a true milestone for us, made possible by John’s support.”
A GoFundMe campaign led by Baldwin native Marie Healey raised more than $13,000 for Kanaras and his family while he was in the intensive care unit.
“I’ve known him for so long, because I’ve been going to the diner since my days in high school and continued that same tradition with my own kids,” Healey, who referred to Kanaras as “Mr. John,” recalled. “One of the things that stood out about him, for our family, is just how funny and engaging he was. He was a fun-loving man.”
Local nonprofits, including Hangout One Happy Place, also stepped up, organizing fundraisers to help during his hospitalization.
“John was the best,” Angela Lucas, founder of the non-profit said. “He embraced the Hangout kids. He was always a supporter of us, and was truly one of a kind.”
Kanaras was a graduate of Oceanside High School, class of 1981. He is survived by his wife, Penny, and their daughter, Rachael Donahue.
A visitation service was held at Fullerton Funeral Home, in Baldwin, on March 6, and Kanaras was interred at Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale the following day.
“John has left us so unexpectedly,” Healey said. “While his passing leaves a tremendous void, it’s the celebration of a life well lived that must give us peace, because what a gift it has been for him to have touched so many lives over the course of his own.”
