John Whalen was born in Oswego, New York. He was the middle child of 12 children from the different marriages of both parents. John graduated from Mexico Academy High School in 1967. Then, in 1997, he went to the Oswego University and received his Masters Degree in Education. He has 3 children, 1 boy and 2 girls from a previous marriage, all of whom he is proud of the way they turned out. His son, Johnny, is in the Office of Naval Intelligence now stationed in Hawaii with his son Kalani. My youngest daughter, Sara, has 2 beautiful children, Rebekah and Brian. John quit teaching to take care of his beautiful wife Linda, who died of cancer on September 12, 2012. His step-son, Tommy Scott Jr. lives with him as they take care of each other.