John McCourt

1916 - 2012

John J. McCourt, Sr.

Marlboro, NY -

John Joseph McCourt, Sr. died quietly at his home in Marlboro on Thursday, September 6, 2012. He was 96 and believed to be the oldest surviving WW II veteran in Marlboro. He was predeceased in December of 2008 by the love of his life, Virginia (Jeannie) Herberich McCourt his wife of 66 years.

A life-long Marlboro resident, he was born at home on April 6, 1916 to his parents Cornelius and Catherine McCourt. He was predeceased by his sister Helen and brother Harold.

Joe and Jeannie were lifelong members of St. Mary's Parish in Marlboro.

He was a graduate of The Marlboro High School Class of 1933 and graduated with honors from Manhattan College in 1937. He then attended law school on a scholarship at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Upon graduation in 1940 he took a job as a staff attorney at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Joe enlisted in the Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor in February of 1942 and was accepted into the U.S. Naval Reserve Training Program. He was commissioned as an Ensign in May of 1942. He served as the commanding officer of mine sweeps in both the Atlantic and Pacific until his active duty discharge in December of 1945.

Upon his return home he opened his law practice with offices in both Marlboro and Newburgh. He practiced law for 35 years until his retirement in 1981. He was also active in both local and state politics on the Democratic ticket.

After retirement he and Jeannie (who taught high school French for many years in Marlboro) traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Europe and South America.

He is survived by his 3 sons, John J. McCourt, Jr. and wife Harlee and their sons Jack and Hank of Houston, Texas, Dennis B. McCourt and his wife Pamela and their son Mark and daughter Katie of Marlboro, NY, Kevin C. McCourt and his wife Deirdre and their sons Conor and Morgan and daughters Shannon and Mary Elizabeth of Lido Beach, NY and 1 daughter Maureen Berg and her husband Jonathan and their daughters Megan and Erin of Monroe, CT.

Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8pm at the DiDonato Funeral Home, 1290 Route 9W, Marlboro

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday morning at 10:30am at St. Mary's Church, Marlboro with Father Frank Bassett officiating.

Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Marlboro

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Carl J. DiDonato, Jr. of the DiDonato Funeral Service, Inc. (845) 236-4300, www.didonatofuneralservice.com