Tracy, John

Son of famous actor Spencer Tracy. Probably born deaf; deafness was discovered at 9 or 10 months of age. Much later it was found he had Usher Syndrome, though almost no source admits this (only his deafness). Taught to speak by his mother Louise. Entered the Wright Oral School ages 3-6 until stricken by polio, which added some physical disability and also weakened his eyesight. Home schooled for a while until he was able to re-enter an oral school for the deaf, then graduated a regular public high school. Graduated Pasadena [CA] Junior College in 1952, then attended an art school for 3 more years. Married in 1953 to a hearing woman and had one son, but this marriage was short-lived. Worked for Walt Disney as an artist in the prop department for several years in the 1960s, but soon after retreated into seclusion and obscurity as Usher Syndrome caused his vision to fail. His eyesight was reported to be nearly completely gone by the early 1980s. Frustrated at the lack of help for parents of deaf children in the Los Angeles area, Mrs. Tracy had founded the John Tracy Clinic, named after her son and initially funded by her husband Spencer, in 1943. Walt Disney, friend of Spencer Tracy, was also a regular charitable contributor to the Clinic, and may also have created a job for John in his company. Initially a walk-in parent counseling program, the Clinic is best known for its parent-education-by-mail program, based on an earlier similar program from the Wright Oral School.