John "Tom" McCardle
Tom McCardle
Woodcarving
The forms & designs of Tom’s utensils and boards are fascinating to me in their beauty and simplicity. Tom stresses that functionality and comfort of use are the highest priority for him when completing a new piece. He achieves that and more, bringing out the natural character of the wood he works with in stunning detail, and in such a way that his work makes for a great addition to any kitchen, whether functional, decoration, or both.
John McCardle was born and raised on a 300 acre wooded farm in Marshall County, West Virginia. He grew up with the woods as his playground and early on became knowledgeable of trees and the wildlife that they housed and protected. Woodworking has always been a part of his life, as his father ran a sawmill on the property, and he began to assist his father running the mill in his teens.
John was recruited by Kent State University to play football, but he had to return home early in his freshman season because of a spinal injury. He graduated from West Liberty State College with a Bachelor’s degree in education, majoring in History and Spanish. He was a teacher and high school coach for 25 years, in both North Carolina and Ohio. He and his family moved to Elyria, OH in 2002, and he taught and coached at Clearview High School until he took an early retirement in 2020. During that time, he incorporated his love of wood and woodworking into a summer job, and he designed and built furniture and fine cabinetry for a number of years.
When John retired early, it was evident that years of beating up on his body as an athlete and a wrestling coach had caught up with him. Retirement wasn’t a choice, but a result of nerve damage resulting from spinal cord injuries over time. The muscle weakness resulting from multiple injuries ended both his professional career in education and his summer job as a cabinet maker. At this point, John discovered how much he enjoyed wood carving and began making spoons, spatulas and other carved trinkets for family and friends.
John and his wife reside in Elyria with their three children, two dogs, a cat and a small flock of chickens on their one-acre urban homestead. More examples of his work can be found on his Facebook page JTM Woodcarvings & More.
-Tom McCardle