Photo courtesy of Chambers Funeral Homes - Cleveland
Mar 9, 1931 - Apr 18, 2025
May God bless and keep you.May the rest of the family be graced with comfort and may you Rest in peace, Uncle Jack.Love from Leslie.
Leslie Lynn O'Rourke
May 12, 2025 | Family
All at Project Children are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of John Coyne. John, along with his wife Mary, was a dedicated volunteer, whose unwavering commitment, kindness, and generosity left a profound mark on our organization and the many lives he touched. His selfless service was an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing him. We extend our sincere condolences to John´s family, friends, and all those who had the honor of working alongside him. His memory will...
Project Children
April 23, 2025 | Other
Our deepest sympathy to all the Coyne family on the passing of Jack. May he rest in peace - fond memories of both Jack and his late wife Mary on their visits to Ireland - from Keane family Aasleagh ( family of Bridgie Coyne Glanagimla cousins )
April 22, 2025
The Project Children family extends our deepest sympathy to all the family on the passing of John. John and Mary were our Coordinators in Ohio for many years, and brought hundreds of children from Northern Ireland to the Cleveland area. Project Children will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary this fall with a week long events at the Peace Museum in County Monahan. The work of Project Children would not have been possible without the dedicated coordinators, and the wonderful host...
Denis Mulcahy
April 21, 2025 | Friend
May Jack rest in peace ,hope he is having a party with all of his family in heaven
Condolences to Michael and all of the family
Martina Roberts( leenane)
Martina Roberts
April 21, 2025 | Galway | Family
Sincere sympathy to the Coyne family on the passing of Jackie and also remembering your mother Mary. We recall lovely visits in Ireland. The Clancy family, Moycullen, County Galway, Ireland. Family of Mary Coyne, Glanagimla, cousin.
Mary Clancy
April 21, 2025 | Galway, Ireland | Family
To the Coyne family, we offer our sincere sympathy on the passing of your dear dad Jackie. We have fond memories of his and Mary's many visits to Leenane over the years. God rest both their souls now.
The Coyne family, Glanagimla, Leenane, Co. Galway, Ireland (cousin Norah Coynes Family)
Maura Coyne
April 21, 2025 | Galway Ireland | Family
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. John befriended me early in my real estate career and was very helpful to me.
John Lynch
April 20, 2025 | Work
To the Coyne family and Jack´s loved ones, please accept my deepest sympathies. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. As a young immigrant to Cleveland, Jack was extraordinarily kind to me, as he was to the Irish, and greater community. He was also a great leader who organized several events and projects to uplift the community. I had the privilege of serving on the Irish Famine committee, and he made it a reality, placing a beautiful granite memorial cross to honor those lost. His wife and...
Sarah Hayden
April 20, 2025 | Friend
JOHN PATRICK "JACK" COYNE, beloved husband of the late Mary F. (nee O'Rourke), entered eternal life on Good Friday, April 18, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Born March 9, 1931, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Peter and Anne Coyne of Leenaun, County Galway, Ireland, Jack rose from humble beginnings to live an extraordinary life.
He was the loving father of Cathleen Coyne Lane (deceased) (John), Dennis M. (Denise), Thomas J. (Maria), Michael F. (Joan), Martin O., and Terence P. (Ann); proud grandfather of Patrick (Joanna), Sarah Czerwien (Joe), Katie (Andrew), Heather (Brandon), John, Jack, Caitlin, Tommy, Michael, Claire McCoy (Connor), Emily, and Elizabeth; great-grandfather of Edie, Andy, Brendan, Connor, and Jack; cherished brother of Mary Matava (deceased), Nancy Regan (deceased), and Barbara Ellen Melle; and beloved uncle and great-uncle to many.
Jack spent his early childhood at Parmadale Children's Village of St. Vincent de Paul, and graduated from Benedictine High School, where he resided at the Abbey for four years. He graduated from Notre Dame University in 1953, and from Notre Dame Law School in 1955. After law school, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army and Ohio National Guard, including assignments at Fort Campbell (KY), Fort Bragg (TX), and Nike missile bases in Bratenahl and Willowick.
He met Mary, the love of his life, at an Irish dance hall in the early 1950s. They were married for over 67 years and shared a deep love of Irish culture and dance. Mary passed away in 2023.
Jack practiced law in Cleveland for over six decades, specializing in banking, real estate, and estate planning, including many years at the firm of Brehmer, Thompson, Morehard, and Coyne. He served as Legal Counsel and Director for the State Savings and Loan Company of South Euclid, Citizen Home Savings and Loan of Lorain, and Pioneer Savings of Cleveland.
As founder of Park-Here, Inc.—later Coyne-Kangesser Parking and now a division of ABM—Jack helped build one of the nation’s largest parking companies. He served as President of both the National Parking Association and Cleveland Parking Association. He was also a founding member of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, the Downtown Cleveland Improvement Corporation, and served on the board of the Historic Warehouse District.
Jack was deeply committed to the Irish American community. At 17, he became Drum Major for the East Side Irish American Club and later worked with Terry Joyce at the West Side Irish American Club. This led to his leadership in the Irish National Caucus, where he served as President of the Cleveland Chapter. He and Mary led Cleveland's Project Children chapter from 1984 to 1996, providing Northern Irish children safe summer experiences in the U.S.
He helped found the Irish Famine Committee in the 1990s, which sponsored the Famine Monument and planted a time capsule dedicated in 2000. Jack was also founding president of the Irish American Political Action Committee (IPAC), which later became the Irish American Charitable Foundation (IACF). Under his leadership, the IACF supported numerous cultural and educational efforts, including the Irish Garden renovation, the Irish Sopranos at Severance Hall, tributes to W. B. Yeats at Cleveland Public Theatre, and the re-publication of the Greater Cleveland Irish Directory.
Jack was president of the St. Ignatius Father’s Club, the Catholic Counseling Center, and the University of Notre Dame — Cleveland Club. He was a regular supporter of the St. Patrick’s Day Guarantors and received numerous awards throughout his lifetime, including the Irish American Archives Society's "Walks of Life" Award in 1998.
Jack and Mary were among the finest Irish dancers in town, frequently drawing admiration at club events. In 2016, Jack was honored to serve as Grand Marshal of the Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade. Their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations began in 1958 and became cherished Cleveland traditions.
Jack was a man of abundant kindness, fairness, humility, generosity and optimism. His life was a testament to service, resilience, and the importance of faith and family. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Funeral Mass Tuesday, April 22, The Church of the Gesu (2470 Miramar Blvd. University Hts.) at 10 A.M. Interment Lakeview Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the SCHULTE & MAHON - MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, 5252 MAYFIELD RD., LYNDHURST (BETWEEN RICHMOND AND BRAINARD) MONDAY 4-7 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the John and Mary Coyne Family Endowment at Gesu School, 2470 Miramar Blvd. University Hts. OH., 44118
The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the Chambers Funeral Homes Facebook page (link to our Facebook page below):
https://www.facebook.com/Chambers-Funeral-Homes-1560347080741913
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