Obituary of John Joseph McMahon

McMahon, John Joseph (Jack) died on Saturday, October 28, 2017, at his home in Bedford, New York. He was 91. Born on February 27, 1926, in Norwalk, Connecticut to John Joseph McMahon and Mary Burns McMahon, Jack attended Iona Preparatory School on scholarship prior to joining the Navy in 1943, and served on the USS Plunkett DD-431. As a navigator, he used semaphore flags to communicate with ships at sea, and shot the stars to chart his ship’s location. He was a member of Tin Can Sailors, an organization for Destroyer veterans. After completing his service in the Navy, he graduated from Catholic University in 1950, and married Kathryn (Sue) Klosky in Washington, DC, in 1952. He taught high school math and aviation science prior to joining the Atomic Energy Commission in 1954, and joined IBM in 1962. As director of global sports for IBM, Jack partnered with a variety of organizations, including Major League Baseball, the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Association of Tennis Professionals, and the International Olympic Committee. His appreciation for sports led to a hobby he shared with his son, John, Jr., collecting sports memorabilia. Always an active contributor to his community, Jack was a member of the Bedford Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee for more than 30 years, and helped lead the Bedford Youth Soccer program for many years. He supported the Canine Commons Dog Area at the Beaver Dam Park, where he could often be found with his dog Juno. He was a lector at St. Timothy Chapel in Banksville, and served as secretary on the board of the Bedford Golf and Tennis Club for twelve years, in addition to serving as chair of the Golf Committee. He enjoyed Irish humor and lore, and complied a collection of Irish wit. He is survived by his spouse, Sue McMahon; his four children: Susan McMahon, Maureen McMahon, Sally Blanchette, and John McMahon; and five grandchildren: Kayleigh Blanchette, Ryan Blanchette,, Connor Blanchette, Zackary Blanchette, and Amanda McMahon. A sixth grandchild, Tyler Blanchette, is deceased. Arrangements have been made with Clark Associates Funeral Home in Katonah, New York. Services will be held on Friday, November 3, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick’s Church in Bedford, New York. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Iona Preparatory School (www.ionaprep.org).