John Joseph Maher

MAHER – John Joseph "Jack" Maher, devoted husband, loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, beloved brother, uncle, and friend, passed away on December 4, 2019, days shy of his 89th birthday. Jack was a true example of a tireless provider, a devoted family man and an elegant gentleman. He was born in a thatched roof cottage in the tranquil lakeside village of Lahardane, Co. Mayo, Ireland to John and Anne (Durcan) Maher, Dec. 9, 1930. He spent his childhood days running through fields, planting crops for harvest, and hunting and fishing for dinner. At age 12 he left school to help his beloved mother look after his fourteen siblings. In May of 1950, a 19-year-old Jack emigrated to America where he was sponsored by his Uncle Jack Durcan who was living in New York City. Upon arrival to the States, Jack was soon drafted by the United States Military and served two years in the Army during the Korean War. After an honorable discharge from the Army he put himself through night school and earned his high school diploma. He then joined the New York City Police Department and served twenty years before retiring in 1980. During his time on the NYPD he met the love of his life, Mary O’Malley, who survives him. They were married in 1963 and raised four daughters together in Nanuet, NY. After his retirement from the NYPD, Jack began a second career as a bus driver for Liberty Lines Transit where he was decorated with several safety awards. After fifteen years with Liberty Lines, he retired in 1995. Since his retirement, Jack was able to enjoy the sweet and simple pleasures of life: spending time with family, afternoons in the garden, bird watching, long road trips, teatime every day with his wife and sneaking the occasional McDonald’s breakfast sandwich with his friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Julia Gorzkiewicz of England, his brother, Edward “Gerry” Maher of Cape Coral, FL, his brother, Seamus Maher of Manchester, England, his sister, Kathleen Maher of Co. Mayo, Ireland and his brother Francis “Frank” Maher of Leesburg, FL.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Mary, children, Clare (Brian) Fitzgerald of Nanuet, N.Y., Christina Maher of V.A., Colleen Maher of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., and Tara Maher of Arlington, V.A., his grandchildren, Nicole (Joe) Sokolowski and Sean (Meag) Fitzgerald, his great-grandson, Shea Sokolowski and nine of his siblings, Anne Dinnegan, Patrick Maher, Theresa Coyle, Christina Pringle, and Dolores Kern, all of the Greater New York City area, Noreen Gavin, Anthony Maher, Muiradack Maher, all of Ireland, and Grace Cock of England.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a not-for-profit, section 501(c)(3) corporation, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 / donors@stjude.org .

Visitation at MICHAEL J. HIGGINS FUNERAL HOME, 321 S. Main Street, New City, NY 10956, on Tuesday, Dec. 10th, 7-9 p.m. Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 36 West Nyack Road, Nanuet, NY 10954, Wednesday, Dec. 11th , 10 a.m. Funeral arrangements under the direction of Michael J. Higgins Funeral Service Inc., 321 S. Main Street, New City, NY 10956 (845-634-6110).