John J. McDermott

BRICK, NJ

AUGUST 12, 1928 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

John Joseph McDermott was born in Warwick, RI on August 12, 1928. He was born to Florence Madison of Rhode Island and Patrick McDermott of Roscommon, Ireland. A proud graduate of Seton Hall Preparatory High School and Seton Hall University, John excelled as a guard on the basketball team. He lived most of his life in West Orange, NJ, and retired in Brick, where he enjoyed days at the pool and walking the boardwalk at Spring Lake. His professional career was marked as a successful sales executive -- the perfect job for John, who relished in the ability to interact with various customers in different parts of the state that he loved. An active member of several Irish American organizations, John always held true to and was proud of his Irish heritage. A proud American, he served in the National Guard for much of his youth. Never one to shy away from the spotlight, John enjoyed breaking into a good tune and was renowned for his singing ability, bestowed with the honor of kicking off a presidential campaign rally by singing the National Anthem. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, John will be remembered each time an Irish tune is sung and a glass of root beer is ordered. Visiting hours will be on Friday, September 16, from 3-7 pm at Quinn Hopping Funeral Home, Livingston, NJ, and the funeral mass will be on Saturday, September 17, at 11 am at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, West Orange, NJ followed by the committal service at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret (Bradley), daughter Kathleen and husband Jeffrey Smith of Wyckoff, daughter Mary Neilan of Cedar Knolls, daughter Eileen and husband Brian Bremer of Branchburg, and four granddaughters, Vanessa, Kerry, Micaelie and Caroline.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in West Orange and St. Dominic Parish in Brick.