February 23, 1941�"November 15, 2009
John George Kovacs passed away from a heart attack. Born in Budapest, his earliest memories were of the ghetto under Nazi occupation. He grew up in Communist Hungary and left with his family in the aftermath of the 1956 Revolution, first settling in St. Louis, then moving to San Francisco in 1959.
He studied at UC Berkeley and received his B.A. in Psychology from San Francisco State. He was a computer programmer, model, bar owner, real estate entrepreneur. He transformed an abandoned synagogue into a rock concert hall, The House of Good, featuring a variety of performers, including Big Brother and the Holding Company and Sylvester of the Cockettes with the Pointer Sisters.
A vital, well-known figure of the 1960s gay and alternative cultural scene, John touched the lives of many. In the 1980s he moved to Haight Street as the owner of the popular bar The Question Mark. A generous, magnetic host, he turned his home into a salon for a diverse group of people.
He took exceptional interest in the lives of a variety of individuals affected by poverty and disease. A magnanimous landlord, he involved himself in the problems of his tenants. A colorful raconteur, he was a source of fun for all around him.
He is survived by his partner Charles Schwab, brother Steve of San Francisco, nieces Genevieve and Ali of Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively, and a remarkable group of heart-broken friends and family.
Services were held for him at Sinai Memorial Chapel, Friday, November 20. To honor his memory his family requests that contributions be made to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, 995 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94103.