John Stachnik, co-founder of Mayflower Tours and two-time chairman of the U.S. Tour Operators Association, died on July 17 at home in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Stachnik and his wife, Mary, founded Mayflower Tours in Downers Grove, Ill., in 1979, originally running the business as a domestic tour operation before expanding to international tours in the 1980s.
Mayflower eventually opened a groups department, which became the foundation of the business.
The Stachniks retired when they sold Mayflower Tours to Scenic Group in 2018.
Stachnik was named a USTOA Honorary Life Member in 2012. He was USTOA chairman in 1996-97 and
2010-11. He started serving on the USTOA board of directors in 1989.
Stachnik is survived by his wife, their two children and grandchildren.