John Herbert Sergeant Jr. of Romeoville, IL, longtime sales manager for Modern Printing Colors, passed away unexpectedly on March 28, 2025. He was 71.

John was born June 6, 1953, in Joliet, IL. After graduating from Southern Illinois University, he was hired by Suresh Mahajan as plant manager for General Press Colors in the early 1980s. After leaving the industry briefly, he rejoined Mahajan after he started Modern Printing Colors, where John was sales manager.

John was extremely active in the ink industry, serving on numerous technical and business committees for the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM), as well as president of the Chicago Printing Ink Production Club (CPIPC). In honor of his service to the industry, John received NAPIM’s prestigious Printing Ink Pioneer Award in 2019.

John is survived by his wife of 49 years, Cathy (Prokopec); two children, John (Emily) and Jason (Becca); and five grandchildren.

His colleagues fondly recalled John’s love of family and his dedication to the industry.

“Many of you have known John for over 30 years,” said Mahajan, president of Modern Printing Colors. “He was well loved both within our industry and in his personal life.”

“I have had the honor of knowing John for 40 years,” Ron Gallas, VP of sales, global – Flint Group Pigments, Chips and Resins. “He was a true gentleman of the industry, equally committed to the company he worked for and to his customers. I will always cherish the memory of taking John and his son to a Chicago Bears football game against the San Francisco 49ers. Over the years, John and I often reminisced about that day. He was a wonderful person, and it was always a pleasure to sit down with him and share a beer.”

“This was a shock to me,” Sumathy Ganesh, former technical director, Toyo Ink America. “I have known John Sergeant for more than 25 years as my vendor at The Ink Company and Toyo Ink America. He was a person who would go out of his way to help customers, and a very vibrant and friendly person. He will be missed dearly in the ink industry. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

“I was so sorry to hear about John Sergeant’s passing,” added Jim Leitch, former president, Braden Sutphin Printing Ink and VP, Wikoff Color. “When I think of John, I think of ‘service to others’. He would help you in any way he possibly could. It might be developing a new product, it might be changing Modern’s production schedule to get your product out the door. It even could be driving the product halfway to meet you so you could meet your customer’s schedule. John was one-of-a-kind and will be missed. Cathy, Johnnie and Jason – thank you for sharing your husband and dad with us over all these years.”

“John was a pillar of the Chicago Printing Ink Production Club,” Dave Vogelsang, senior sales representative, Calumet Specialty Products, recalled. “He was responsible for me joining the club and nominated me to become a board member. I have so many fond memories of times spent with John and his wife, Cathy, at CPIPC and NAPIM functions. He will be sorely missed.”

CPIPC president John Copeland also spoke of John’s love of his family.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of the CPIPC, we extend our heartfelt condolences to John’s wife, Cathy, and his sons, John and Jason,” said Copeland. “Family was always John’s top priority, and this unwavering commitment was known to all who had the privilege of working with him.

“John was widely recognized for his exceptional dedication to his clients,” Copeland added. “He provided tireless support across the nation, offering invaluable technical assistance and insight that contributed to numerous product innovations. Whether day or night, John was always available to lend his expertise and ensure his clients’ needs were met. John’s legacy in the printing ink industry is irreplaceable, and he will be deeply missed by his friends, colleagues, and family.”


“I had the privilege of meeting John over 40 years ago through our shared involvement in the graphic arts and printing ink industry,” said Steve Miller, director of technology, Sun Chemical Corporation. “From the moment we met, it was clear that John was someone who immediately made a positive impression. He demonstrated a genuine interest in everyone he encountered.

“John was a highly dedicated and industrious professional, renowned for his unwavering integrity, and consistently treated others with kindness and respect,” Miller continued. “As a leader in our industry, John possessed decades of valuable knowledge and experience, yet he was always approachable and open to discussions on any subject. Our conversations typically began and ended with a focus on our families, though we always managed to incorporate business along the way.

“While John had a deep appreciation for the industry, it was clear he worked to live, not the other way around,” Miller concluded. “His family was his greatest passion. While his passing represents a significant loss to our industry, it pales in comparison to the profound loss his family will endure. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with Cathy and the entire family during this difficult time.”




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