John F. "Jack" Walsh

June 14, 2012

John F. "Jack" Walsh Sr., 85 of Fulton died Thursday, June 14, 2012 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse following a brief illness. Born on April 29, 1927 in New Brunswick, NJ to Edward and Marguerite (McGovern) Walsh, he had resided in Fulton since 1931. Jack was a 1943 graduate of Fulton High School and had attended the Crane School of Music at Potsdam State College. He was a veteran of the U. S. Navy from 1945-1946 serving in the Pacific Theatre, Hawaii, Philippines, Korea and China aboard the U.S.S. LSM 475. He was vice president of Walsh's Manor Inc. Restaurant in Fulton from 1947-1957. Jack served the City of Fulton as assistant city clerk for three years before becoming the City Clerk from 1958 until his retirement in 1985. He was a past president of NYS Assoc. of City and Village Clerks; member of the Planning Commission of NYS Conference of Mayors and International Institute of Municipal Clerks. He was a 37 year member, past president and Paul Harris Fellow of the Fulton Rotary Club and was a member of the Hamer Sing-a-long Group serving local area nursing homes. Jack received the 1996 and 2005 Volunteer of the Year Award at Michaud Nursing Home and with his wife Emma was a joint recipient of the Fulton Community Service Award. He served three terms as a legislator on the Oswego County Legislature from 1988-1993 and he received the Fulton Republican Committee 2001 Distinguished Citizenship Award.

Jack was a communicant of The Church of the Immaculate Conception since 1931 where he had been a trustee and choir member and he had served on the Oswego County Catholic Charities Board of Directors. He participated in many musical fields and was a well-known vocalist. Jack organized and sang in his own barbershop quartet "The No Name Quartet" as well as SPEBSQSA and sang as a choral and choir member and in various stage productions. He was a past vice president of the Fulton Men's Chorus; sang with the SUNY at Oswego Festival Chorus and had been a vocalist with the Syracuse Symphony. Jack was a former charter member of the Fulton Lions Club and a social member of the Fulton Polish Home. An avid golfer, he was an organizer and active participant in the Fulton City Golf League for over two decades. In his retirement he enjoyed golf, gardening and grandchildren. He was well-known and respected and the Irish spirit and soul of the Walsh clan. He was a devoted husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle and family provider throughout his married life.

Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Emma (Rowley) Walsh of Fulton; two sons, John Walsh Jr. and Harold (Sandra) Walsh of Fulton; three grandchildren, Tiffany, Siobhan and Brandon Walsh; three great-grandchildren, Damien Piper, Mitchell Shurtleff and Grace Ellen Kitts; a sister, Rosemary Gillard of Vestal and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Thomas Walsh and sisters, Aileen Gillard and Jeanne Doull.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 23 at Holy Trinity Church (formerly The Church of the Immaculate Conception) corner of Rochester and South Third Streets, Fulton with burial at St. Mary's Cemetery in Fulton. Calling hours are 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 22 at Foster Funeral Home, 910 Fay Street, Fulton.

The family requests memorial contributions made to: Alzheimer's Association, 441 W. Kirkpatrick St., Syracuse, NY 13204 or St. Joseph's Hospital M.I.C.U., 301 Prospect Ave., Syracuse, NY 13203 or Holy Trinity Church, 309 Buffalo St., Fulton, NY 13069.

Foster Funeral Home, Inc.

fosterfuneralhome.com