John Breslin Rankin

1948 - 2015

1948-2015 John Breslin Rankin Jr., 67, of Upper Darby, passed away peacefully at home on November 7, 2015 surrounded by his loving family. Son of Judith (nee Raaska) and the late John Breslin Rankin, Sr., John was born in Philadelphia and raised in the Westbrook Park section of Upper Darby. John was a 1966 graduate of Upper Darby High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Widener University in 1970 and a Master of Arts degree from Villanova University in 1975. John was a dedicated science teacher, Dean of Students, and athletic coach who retired from the Ridley School District in 2003. He also served as a volunteer firefighter, from the age of 18, in the Primos Secane Westbrook Park Fire Company, obtaining the rank of Chief. Recently, the rank of Honorary Deputy Department Chief was bestowed upon John by the Fire Department of New York City. For the past 8 years, he served proudly as an Upper Darby Township Councilman as well. John’s passions included cooking for his kids, his pets, and vacationing at the Jersey Shore. John is survived by his mother, Judith, his daughter Katie Rankin and his son Kevin Rankin. He is also survived by his sister, Christine Harms (Rankin), her children Steven and Samantha Harms; his brother Robert Rankin (Irene) and their son Erik, along with his nieces Kendra Riley and Lindsay Galloway and his nephews Kurtis Riley and Ryan Galloway. There will be a Visitation, Tuesday, November 10th, at 6:00pm and Wednesday, November 11th after 9:30am at O’Leary Funeral Home, 640 E. Springfield Rd., Springfield, PA 19064. His Funeral Service will be at 11:00am at the Funeral Home. Interment will be in Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org or the Widow and Children’s Fund of the Fire Department of New York, www.unfanyc.org.