John E. McCormack

John Edward McCormack was born to Helen and Jack McCormack on August 31, 1930 in Bronx, New York. His brother Joseph was born in 1934. The family lived on University Avenue and attended Holy Spirit Catholic church. John was enrolled at Holy Spirit Primary School until Year 8 and then attended Cardinal Hayes High School. After high school, he went to Manhattan College for one year before suspending his studies to enlist in the US Navy and serve his country in the Korean War for four years. John was originally trained to be a welder, but when his superiors saw his excellent penmanship, typing and organisational skills, he was transferred immediately to an administrative role where he served for the remainder of his tenure in the Navy, stationed primarily in Guam. When he returned from the war, he used his GI Bill to register for classes at Fordham University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business in 1958.

John and Mary Alice Mitchell started dating in 1956. They were married on June 11, 1960 at Holy Spirit church. Their first home was on 207th St and Grand Concourse in the Bronx. It was not long before their family expanded to include their first daughter, Theresa Ann, in 1961, a son, Steven Mitchell in 1963, their second daughter, Ann Marie, in 1964 and their third daughter, Maureen Ellen, in 1965. During this time, John joined the Allstate Insurance family where he would work for the next 41 years.

In 1961, John and Mary moved to Lindenhurst, Long Island partly due to John’s workplace and to also accommodate his rapidly expanding family. In 1964, they shifted again. This time to purchase their first house in Brentwood, Long Island. It was a brand, new 3-bedroom house which they were only able to purchase through the generosity of John’s GI Bill.

John was an excellent bowler. He was the captain of the Fordham University Bowling team and he was an active member of the men’s leagues at Brentwood Lanes. John was also a member of the VFW branch in Brentwood.

In 1972, John and Mary welcomed their 4th daughter, Catherine Mary and in 1974, their 5th daughter, Jean Marie, was born. During this time, John was working as a manager of operations for Allstate’s Huntington headquarters. When Allstate decided to build new premises in Farmingville, NY, John was appointed to oversee the multimillion-dollar development atop Bald Hill. This professional promotion, as well as the need for a bigger home, saw John and Mary move again in 1978, this time to Rocky Point.

In 1979, John made a decision to turn his will and his life over to the care of God and the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. He embraced the program fully and from Day One, served as a role model to people inside and outside the program. He lived and breathed the Traditions in every aspect of his life. He started every day with a prayer of gratitude and ended each day the same way. He sponsored dozens of men across Long Island and served hundreds of others to assist them achieving and maintaining sobriety. John never lectured others or shamed them for their shortcomings. His actions inside and outside the rooms were the most powerful tool he had. John took on numerous service roles including Literature Rep, a Group Secretary, a coffee maker, a treasurer, chair stacker and floor sweeper. He did everything that was asked of him and more and for that he was rewarded with a life beyond his wildest dreams.

John served as an usher for many years at his parish, St. Louis de Montfort in Sound Beach. He volunteered annually at the March of Dimes fundraisers to raise money for children and mothers to give them the best start possible. He volunteered and supported the Matt Talbot Foundation, a program specifically directed at helping homeless and mentally ill people in addition recovery. He visited hospitals, prisons and mental units to carry the message of hope and recovery to those who needed it most.

John never stopped teaching. He taught all his children how to drive. He taught them the importance of being on time. He taught them that faith without works is dead and that it is their Christian duty help those less fortunate. He always made time for his immediate family as well as his extended family and looked after his parents, his aunts, his uncles and cousins as best as he could.

After 41 years with Allstate, John retired from Allstate Insurance Company. He was given a beautiful send off by many of the people he worked with over the years, from Vice Presidents to secretaries. John treated everyone with the same respect and it was something he was admired for.

With retirement, came the need for a new lifestyle and routine. Every morning at 5am, John would head down to the Body Shop in Miller Place. John made many friends at the gym and was a regular fixture of the early bird crew. John and Mary enjoyed their retirement years to the fullest. They took holidays around the world visiting Europe, Australia, Canada, Hawaii and many other places throughout the United States. They visited friends and family and enjoyed each other’s company everyday they were together.

In 2017, John took up his final residence at the Long Island Veterans Home in Stony Brook, Long Island. John made many friends at the home with the other residents, their families and staff members. Everyone that made his acquaintance remarked about what a lovely, gentleman he was. John passed away peacefully on 26 August 2020.

John is survived by his daughter Theresa Bianco and her son, Robert Bianco; his son Steven McCormack; his daughter Ann Gross and her husband Hardison Gross and their son, Bryan Gross; his daughter Maureen Desmond and her husband, David Desmond, and their children Laura and John Desmond; his daughter Catherine Wall and her husband Ross Wall and their two children Daniel and Mary Wall and his daughter Jean Carrera and her daughters, Elizabeth, Eileen and Evelyn Carrera.

Please join the family in sending off man who touched so many lives and whose legacy of giving and caring has and will continue to live the generations of people fortunate enough to know him.

A visitation for John will be held Monday, August 31, 2020 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at O.B. Davis Funeral Homes, 1001 Route 25A, Miller Place, NY 11764. Funeral Mass, Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 10:00 AM at St. Louis de Montfort Roman Catholic Church, 75 New York Avenue, Sound Beach, NY 11789. Interment to follow at Calverton National Cemetery, 210 Princeton Boulevard, Calverton, NY 11933.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.obdavismillerplace.com for the McCormack family.