John Goerner’s life, law ambitions centered around giving back Courtesy of Larry Miller Goerner strived to uplift everyone he knew. He hoped to one day do the same as a lawyer. Facebook Subscribe to our newsletter here. John Goerner lived to help others. As a husband, a friend, a coach and a student, he strived to uplift everyone he knew. He hoped to one day do the same as a lawyer. “John was always a giving, helping person,” said Kristin Goerner, John’s wife. “He just knew he wanted to help people.” Goerner, a student in Syracuse University’s College of Law who was studying remotely from Mohnton, Pennsylvania, died from pancreatic cancer on March 30. He was 41 years old.