A CARE worker who helped scores of young people with learning disabilities in York died in front of his three sons after suffering a massive heart attack while riding his motorcycle.

John Michael Cusick, 54, who ran a care home in South Bank with his wife, Rosemary, until earlier this year, had been steadily recovering after being ill for two years with a pancreatic tumour when the tragedy occurred.

Rosemary, his wife of 29 years, who had recently moved with John to Weaverthorpe, near Malton, said: "He'd got a new bike and it was the first time he thought he was fit enough to go out with our sons for the weekend." The grandfather-of-eight was riding on the A59 between Harrogate and Skipton on his way to the Lake District with his sons Paul, 39, of Wilberfoss, Mark, 37, of Filey, and Darren, 34, of Huntington, when he had a heart attack.

John tried to brake and then hit the ground. Darren stopped the traffic, while his brothers attempted to revive their father.

Rosemary said: "Everyone's stunned. Even though he's been ill for a long time. The way he went was still a shock."

John will be remembered for the valuable work he and his wife did with people suffering from learning disabilities with underlying mental health problems, some potentially violent and diagnosed as psychotic. The couple set up The Cusicks, off Hull Road, York, in 1984 and shortly moved to Wentworth Road in South Bank so they could expand from four patients to 20. Rosemary said: "He was fair, firm, caring, proud and stubborn."

His funeral will take place at St Wilfrid's Roman Church, York, on Wednesday, May 11.

Updated: 10:53 Friday, May 06, 2005