John Edward McElligott

1922 - 2014

McElligott, John Edward

February 8, 1922 - May 30, 2014

John Edward McElligott died peacefully at home on Friday. He was born to Patrick and Jane McElligott in Staten Island, NY, on February 8, 1922. He graduated from Manhattan College, New York City, in 1943 with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Going directly from there into the Army, he served as a radar training officer in New Guinea and the Philippines until the end of World War II.

On returning to civilian life, he went to work for General Electric, first in Lynn, MA, then in Schenectady, NY. There he met Anita Gertrude Sullivan, who worked for the advertising department. They married in August of 1950. Anita gave birth to the first of their five children, Brian, in June of the following year.

He accepted a job with Leach Corporation in California, moving the family, which now included daughter Maureen, to Pasadena. There, two more children, sons James and John, were born. The family moved to Lakewood briefly before settling in Fullerton, where their fifth child, Paul, was born. John would live in Fullerton for the rest of his life.

John worked for Leach Corporation for the remainder of his career, rising to President of the company before retiring in 1983. He was instrumental in moving the company U.S. headquarters from South Central Los Angeles to a larger, more modern facility in Buena Park.

He was active in local politics as President of the North Fullerton Homeowners Association, and served on the Advisory Board for Servite High School, attended by three of his sons, and on the Foundation Board for St. Jude Medical Center. He was an active member of Serra Club of Orange County, a society to encourage Catholic men toward the priesthood. He was also active in his church, St. Juliana Falconieri parishes in Fullerton, heading up the Vocations Committee.

Predeceased by his oldest son, Brian, in 1994, and his siblings, Martin, Marie, and his twin sister, Joan, John is survived by his wife of 63 years, Anita; daughter, Maureen; three sons, James (Lori), John and Paul; as well as four grandsons, Kevin, Matthew, Cody and Dylan.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in John's name to the Saint Jude Memorial Foundation at P.O. Box 4138, Fullerton, CA, 92834.

A memorial mass will be held at St. Juliana Falconieri at 1316 N. Acacia Ave in Fullerton on Tuesday, June 10 at 10:00am, followed by a reception in the Parish Center. McAulay & Wallace Mortuary