John P. Schofield

John P. Schofield, 98, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 21, 2022, of natural causes. Born in Brooklyn on March 15, 1924, he was the son of immigrant parents John J. and Margaret (Walsh) Schofield. He graduated from Bishop Laughlin Memorial High School and then served in the U.S. Army during WWII, where he reached the rank of First Lieutenant. After being honorably discharged from the military at the end of the war he attended St. Francis College. He later served the City of New York as a member of New York City Police Department for seven years. While a detective in the 24th precinct, he attended New York Law School at night and earned his law degree. He left the police force and started a general law practice. He represented clients in personal injury cases, real estate and probate matters. During his long legal career, he passionately advocated for his clients as a trial attorney in the state and federal courts of New York. He also successfully argued a constitutional rights case before the U.S. Supreme Court, reversing decisions of both the N.Y. Court of Appeals and Federal Circuit Court. He served as counsel to the NYPD Detectives, Lieutenants and Captains Endowment and defended some of its highest ranking members concerning investigations and allegations of official misconduct before the Knapp Commission, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, and the Mollen Commission.

John, known as Jack by many people, was a devout Catholic who cherished his family and many friends. He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 65 years, Margaret, and survived by his three loving children, Eileen (Thomas Herbertson) Short Hills, NJ, Jeanne (David Cosgrove) Short Hills, NJ, and Paul (Sheila Corcoran) New City, NY, and his six grandchildren, Mary and Timothy Cosgrove, Maura Herbertson, Kathleen, Amy and John Schofield. He is survived by his sister Mary Moran and predeceased by his sisters Dolores and Anne, and brother Peter.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at 10:00 am at St. Augustine Church in New City followed by interment in St. Anthony’s Cemetery Nanuet, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. Please indicate the gift is in memory of John P. Schofield, Class of 1941 on the memo line and mail to:Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, Development Department, 357 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238 or online at https://www.loughlin.org.

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