John J. (Jack) McDevitt

John J. McDevitt (Jack), age 81, of Havertown, PA, formerly of Mount Airy, passed away on March 15, 2016. John, whose parents were both born in Ireland, was a graduate of St. Joseph Preparatory School and St. Joseph University. He served with the 31st Regiment of the 7th Division of the U.S. Army in Korea. John began his newspaper career in the Newsprint Department of the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1957. He subsequently held numerous positions in the Production Division of Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. He retired in 1989. A lifelong student of Irish History, he had been a member of the Irish American Cultural Institute. He was also a member of the Donegal Association and The Eire Philatelic Association. He was a student of the Gaelic and French languages. He also enjoyed Irish traditional music and helped teach Irish Ceili dancing in Havertown for more than 30 years. John was an avid genealogist and researched ancestral histories for family and friends both in Ireland and the United States. He was a frequent visitor to the National Archives and The Latter Day Saints Libraries. He was a member of the Irish Genealogical Society International and was Founder and Chair of the Irish American Genealogical Society of Delaware County. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Dennis Kelly Division, Havertown. John and his wife, Elizabeth, enjoyed traveling. They were particularly fond of cruises and had been on 29 cruises together. John is survived by his wife of 58 years, Elizabeth Anne Coyle, sons John J. and Michael F. and a daughter Eileen P. McKeever (Edward) and grandchildren Marianne, Timothy and Maureen McKeever. He was the father of the late Mary Anne McDevitt. He is also survived by a sister Rosemary Gaughan (the late Thomas) of Huntington, CT and a brother Thomas (Ginny) of Wheaton, IL and by numerous nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Saturday, March 19, 2016 9:00-11:15 AM The Donohue Funeral Home, 8401 West Chester Pike (Cor. Lynn Blvd.), Upper Darby, PA (610) 449-0300 and to his Funeral Mass 12:00 Noon Annunciation BVM Church, 401 Brookline Blvd., Havertown, PA. Interment SS Peter and Paul Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in John's memory to Project Home, 1515 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130 would be appreciated.