John Joseph Munley

John Joseph Munley died peacefully on Tuesday, August 1st at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, TX due to complications of his cancer treatment. He was 74 years old. He will be remembered as a beloved, joyful family and community member, a storyteller, a passionate advocate for social justice, an inventive chef and a devoted Grandpa.

John was born in Dunmore, PA to parents Mary L. Pickard and Thomas C. Munley in 1948. The youngest of three, he was proud of his working-class Irish-Catholic upbringing. He attended Scranton Preparatory School and the University of Scranton, graduating with a degree in English in 1970 followed by graduate work in American Studies at Boston College. John went on to have a dynamic and varied career, following his interest in scholarship and entrepreneurship.

As a college professor, he was beloved by his students at Boston College and Pine Manor College for passionate and creative lectures punctuated with theatrical antics in subjects ranging from history to media and political science.

After five years teaching college level courses, John became a serial entrepreneur. His businesses ranged widely from servicing consumer health with a vitamin and health food store in Newton, MA to fulfilling the country’s desire for frozen yogurt and soft serve ice cream as a national sales leader for Stoelting Food Service. He also enabled efficient design for cafeterias and hospital operating rooms, and advanced environmental sustainability in representing new technology for water preservation and energy conservation. This work took him all over the country and the globe.

In 1982, John married the love of his life, Sarah Smith Munley to whom he was married for 38 years before she passed in 2020. The two settled in Needham, MA to raise two children before moving to Winsted, CT, where he championed protecting the community’s cherished lake with the Highland Lake Association. They ultimately retired to San Antonio, TX to join family, and to escape the harsh winters in the northeast. John and Sarah traveled the world together taking adventurous trips across many continents.

Life experiences helped fuel John’s passion for storytelling, a skill he always possessed, but honed later in life and nurtured through the San Antonio Storytellers as a member of the Leadership Council. Fittingly, he also honored his heritage in becoming a leader in the Irish Cultural Society of San Antonio. He died on what would have been his and Sarah’s 41st wedding anniversary.

John is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Col. Thomas C. and Maripat Munley, nephew Sean T. Munley, sister, Sister Anne Munley IHM, two children Silas Martin and Lissa Frenkel and four loving grandchildren, Flynn, Finley, Corabelle and Grey. Silas and Lissa remember John as enthusiastic and caring, playful and intellectual, dedicated and passionate, and as one who could always offer Irish wit or literary wisdom. He will be greatly missed.

Memorial services will be held at Porter Loring North in San Antonio, TX on August 26th at 11:00 a.m. and in Norfolk, CT on September 9th. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Common Cause.