[2] John was adopted by James and Helen (Baldwin) Carrell, and grew up in Seattle.

His father James Carrell was a professor of speech and hearing at the University of Washington, and mother Helen (Baldwin) Carrell was a speech therapist for the Seattle public schools.

After retiring from competitive skating, John graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in political science.

He spent some time coaching, but decided to reinvent himself as a ballet dancer.

[3] From 1973 to 1980, he was known as John Aubrey, a member of the National Ballet of Canada.