John Joseph Kearney Jr.

John was born June 2, 1924 in Woodhaven, Queens. He attended St. Thomas the Apostle Grammar School. As a youth he worked as a paper boy in Point Lookout each summer by his parent’s bungalow, as a ball boy at Dexter Park, Queens where he witnessed the play of the great Negro players like Buck Leonard, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson among others, and as a life guard at Breezy Point, where he was once fired by Robert Moses, the “Empire Builder”, because he had shared his life guard chair with a young lady. John graduated from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, NY after having competed as a varsity swimmer.

John, or Jack as he was known by friends and family, then attended the University of Notre Dame as an ROTC recruit. He graduated as a “double-domer”, first in 1945, and again in 1948, with Bachelors in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering. He became affectionately known by his friends from Notre Dame as “The Dealer” because he knew how to work a deal, like the deal he worked to stay at Notre Dame, while all his close friends were shipped off as commissioned officers in February, 1945.

Upon graduation Jack married the love of his life Eileen, whom he had met at his cousin’s “house party” while home from college. Jack finished his Navy service as an Ensign in the reservist submarine program stationed in Groton, Connecticut.

Jack’s professional career began at EBASCO Services, an international engineering consulting and construction firm, and eventually moved onto the electrical industry’s magazine Electrical World as an editor at McGraw Hill. His most enduring position, however, was as Executive Senior Vice President at Edison Electric Institute (“EEI”). His primary responsibility was formulating and leading the industry standards for nuclear power and environmental issues. He assisted Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh with managing the response for the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor melt down in 1979. Jack’s greatest professional achievement came in 1988 when he lobbied for the re-newel of the 1957 Price Anderson Act. The Act provides no fault type insurance as an incentive to private industries for developing nuclear power. President Reagan appointed Jack to the Presidential Commission on Catastrophic Nuclear Accidents as a result of his effort and expertise. After retiring from EEI, Jack headed the Lunar Energy Enterprise Case Study for NASA. The task force examined the economic viability and commercial business potential of mining and extracting fuel for fusion reactors to generate electricity on earth. In recent years a Russian space company is seeking funding to mine lunar helium-3 on the moon by 2020.

Throughout his life Jack carried his love of the Fighting Irish and was easily identified by his Notre Dame jacket and hat. He shared his Notre Dame experience with his son Jack, a 1980 (BBA) graduate, and was always quick to point out he witnessed three national championships while at ND, thanks to “Leahy’s lads.” Jack made the pilgrimage to South Bend each fall for an ND football game, and occasionally in the spring for class reunions. While on campus he always stopped off to sit on the bench in front of Walsh Hall that he and his Navy ROTC classmates donated. In retirement Jack stayed busy as the coordinator and teacher of ESL classes at Good Shepherd Church and as a reading tutor for Alexandria Public Schools, building friendships and sharing his strong work ethic with his pupils. He attended 8 a.m. mass daily at St. Mary’s, where he had served as a church board member. Jack was also known to have a Brandy Alexander at a number of different establishments in Old Town, Alexandria where he and his wife were established patrons, beloved by all.

Though Eileen passed away in 1996, her presence loomed large in his life through his remaining years. As long-standing members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church they were linked not only in their strong faith but their shared love of travel and culture. Jack especially enjoyed visiting his daughter Joan and her family in Rome as another avenue to explore his Catholic faith. Always a top-student, Jack continued to read and learn about his faith, his Irish heritage, and military history throughout his life, continually providing knowledge and guidance to his family. He is survived by his children; his four daughters, Eileen, Mary Jane, Joan, and Elizabeth, his son Jack (John J., III); his sister Peggy Fitzgerald; and his six grandchildren; granddaughters Kyle and Catherine and his grandsons Jackson (John J., IV), Owen, Max and Finn.

To celebrate Jack’s life and legacy, visitation will be held at the Demaine Alexandria Funeral Home, 520 South Washington Street, Alexandria VA., 22314 on Tuesday, May 12, 6-8PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 310 South Royal Street, Alexandria VA., 22314 on Wednesday, May 13 10:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Inner-City Scholarship Fund 1011 First Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022 and Don Bosco Cristo Rey, P.O. Box 56481 Washington, DC 20040