Michael Leland "Spike" John

Michael Leland “Spike” John, 53, of Salamanca, NY passed Monday afternoon, March 8, 2021 at Erie County Medical Center following a short illness due to complications of COVID-19.

Born February 17, 1968 in Salamanca, NY, he was a son of Leland John Jr. and Barbara White John.

He was an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians and the Wolf Clan.

Spike was a graduate of Salamanca High School, Class of 1986. He attended Westminster College in Pennsylvania, SUNY Brockport, as well as the Erie County Central Police Services Law Enforcement Academy.

He served three terms as a tribal councilor from 1998 - 2012 and was active in the tribal community. He served as Seneca Gaming Authority Commissioner and the Seneca Gaming Corporation Board of Directors from 2013 – 2018. He was currently the Chairman of the Seneca Gaming Authority since 2018.

He was an excellent cook, was an avid food critic, and was a passionate Michigan Wolverines fan.

Surviving are: a daughter, Clarissa John; a son, Asa John; his mother, Barbara John; two sisters, Christina “Tina” (Dennis) Becker, Kristin Chaparro; a brother, Donald (Sally) John, all of Salamanca; several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY on Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m., where funeral services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. with Pastor Eric Hice of the Center Street Baptist Church officiating.

Burial will be in Memorial Heights Cemetery, Jimersontown, NY.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Seneca Diabetes Association, PO Box 309, Irving, NY 14081.

E-condolences can be sent to orourke.orourkefh@gmail.com or posted to facebook.com/onofh.