John McCloskey

John McCloskey
'Buddy'
SHERRILLS FORD -- Mr. McCloskey, 83, died peacefully on Sunday, March 1, 2009, at the Gordon-Hospice House in Statesville after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. Buddy was formerly of Bayside, New York, and retired to North Carolina with his wife in 1988.
Known to everyone as Buddy, he was born on July 26, 1925, in Queens, New York, to the late Fred and Fannie McCloskey. He spent his career in the construction industry in the New York City, Queens and Long Island areas. He was most proud of having worked on the construction of 'The Windows On The World Restaurant' on the top of the World Trade Center.
During WWII, Buddy was in the U.S. Navy, having served as a turret gunner in a Grumman Avenger that flew off the carrier Franklin CV-13. Married to Johanna Cotter in 1988, the two enjoyed extensive international travel, including several trips to her hometown of Breslau, Germany, now Wroclaw, Poland. Buddy and Johanna became active in the Charlotte Sister City Committee when Wroclaw was named a Sister City to Charlotte.
Buddy also became involved in Johanna's art projects and framed literally hundreds of her paintings. He enjoyed golf and motorboating, having spent many wonderful hours cruising Lake Norman near their Sherrills Ford home.
Survivors include wife, Johanna Cotter McCloskey of Sherrills Ford; sons, John McCloskey of Savannah, Georgia, Glenn McCloskey of Canton, Connecticut, Tom Cotter, Davidson, Robert Cotter of Stony Brook, New York, Peter Cotter of Holbrook, New York; brother, Vincent of Stony Brook, New York; sister-in-law, Christa 'Kiki' Skiebe of Davidson; and the four prides of his life, grandchildren, Ian Cotter of Stony Brook, New York, Brian Patrick Cotter of Davidson, Sophia Rose Cotter of East Moriches, New York, and four-week old Sage Sierra Cotter of Holbrook, New York.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, should be sent to the Gordon-Hospice House of Statesville, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, North Carolina 28625.
A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, 494 East Plaza Drive (Hwy 150 East), Mooresville. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m.