John Joseph McLaughlin III

John Joseph McLaughlin III died on September 25, 2023 at the age of 81. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Christine Tully McLaughlin; his three brothers and their spouses: Robert (Suzanne), Michael (Vera), Joseph (the late Christine); his five children and their spouses: John Joseph IV (Kathryn), Timothy Patrick (Julie Madi), Maureen Christie (Brian), Brian Tully (Gabriela), Anne Elizabeth; as well as ten grandchildren: Annika, Anjamora, John Joseph V, Colin, Tadhg, Tully, Fiadh, Isabella, Jonathan, and Isabelle Grace.

John was born on July 29, 1942 in Leesburg, Virginia to Florence Isabelle Nichols McLaughlin and John Joseph McLaughlin, Jr. who then resided in Washington, DC. Several years later, the family moved to China Lake, California where John’s three younger brothers were born in turn. They all lived in China Lake until the early death in 1959 of John Joseph, Jr., at which time the four boys and their mother moved back to the Nichols’ family home in Loudoun County, Virginia.

John completed secondary studies at Loudoun County High School in Leesburg where he starred on the baseball and basketball teams. Following graduation, John enrolled at the Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, DC where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History. John was the prominent pitcher on the CUA baseball team for four years. He also served as president of his fraternity, “The Senator’s Club”, and was active in a range of activities and organizations at the school.

John continued his studies at the CUA School of Law and was awarded his Juris Doctor (JD) degree in 1968. During law school, he met his beloved wife, Chris Tully, then a senior at Trinity College in Washington, DC. The couple was married on April 12, 1969, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Chris’ hometown of Caldwell, New Jersey.

After a brief stint working for the Department of Justice, John was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force’s Judge Advocate General Corps and bound for Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He and Chris spent four years at Lackland where John rose to the rank of Captain and the couple welcomed their first child. In 1972, John and Chris returned to Northern Virginia where four more children were born to them, completing the spirited family.

John joined the law firm Shanley & Fisher before going into private practice in Falls Church, Virginia. John later became General Counsel at Cavalier Logistics in Dulles, Virginia where he worked for the remainder of his life, his overall legal career spanning 55 years.

Beyond his educational and work devotions, John most cherished his service to the greater community. He was a longtime coach of youth soccer and basketball in the Northern Virginia area and served on various school and church committees, even after his own children were raised. John was co-founder of the acclaimed Gonzaga DC Classic Basketball Tournament, serving 30 years as Chairman of its organizing Committee. This nationally prominent annual event, aptly described by its motto “Great Basketball Supporting Good Works”, showcased future college and NBA standouts, while more importantly raising generous sums in support of Gonzaga College High School’s service projects in vulnerable communities in the U.S. and Latin America. John traveled to many of the project sites. He had a special connection to the Lakota people of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota as well as to the campo villagers of the Dominican Republic, where his eldest son has led service groups for many years.

John and Chris have been generous benefactors and active supporters of a wide range of charities and institutions, including Catholic Charities of Arlington, Ignatian Volunteer Corps, Red Cloud Indian School, UVA Glee Club, Washington Jesuit Academy, and Education Across Borders.

The McLaughlin family keenly grieves the loss of this most magnificent man yet knows his soul has made its journey to the heavens to find its rightful place in the circle of Irish ancestry. A Wake will be held on Friday October 6th from 4-7pm at Murphy Funeral Home (1102 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA). The Funeral Mass for John will be held at St. Aloysius Catholic Church (19 Eye Street, Washington, DC) on Saturday, October 7 at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Education Across Borders, Red Cloud Indian School, or Catholic Charities.