John Sawruk
John Sawruk (November 23, 1946 – November 12, 2008) was an American executive. He was also the official historian of the Pontiac Motor Division of GM. John was a licensed engineer, receiving his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and his MBA from Wayne State University. In 1978, a highlight of this career was presented with the prestigious Boss Kettering Award from General Motors. He held a U.S. patent for an engine with charge equalizing intake manifold on the 4-cylinder “Iron Duke” engine. After retiring, John enjoyed attending car enthusiast events , often speaking at technical sessions of the GTO Association of America (GTOAA). He would bring his black 1971½ Pontiac GT-37, a rare car of historical significance. Pontiac only produced a few thousand of the GT-37's in 1970 and 1971, a car based on the same body platform as the more numerous and popular Pontiac GTO. Death. John was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1997 and was doing well until November 2007. Typically once someone has been diagnosed with kidney cancer, they only have a 5% chance to live beyond one year. John went through two surgeries and many different  experimental drugs over his last few years to be able to live an additional 11 years beyond the odds. On September 30, 2008 the doctor gave him six months, or less, to live and on the morning of November 12, 2008 he died at age 61, just 11 days before his 62nd birthday.