John Patrick McNichol

John Patrick McNichol passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, November 17, 2024, after a protracted battle with lung cancer. He was preceded in death by his amazing wife and mother of his children Marni (Nelson) McNichol, his parents Margaret "Peggy" (McGinley) and John "Baron" McNichol, his sister Sharon "Jack Flannery" McNichol, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and loved ones.

He is survived by his wonderful second wife Erin (Laliberté) McNichol of West Palm Beach, FL, and three fantastic children, Meghan (Michael) McNichol-Tress of Baltimore, MD, Dan (Heather) McNichol of Charlotte, NC, and J. Patrick (Caitlin) McNichol of Richmond, VA, as well four beautiful grandchildren, Cieran, Marni, Eamon, and Harper. Also surviving are his sister Colleen (Ken) Brown of Montoursville, PA, a niece (Melissa), and two nephews (Colin, Chris) as well as numerous-possibly mental-Irish-American family members.

A resident of Lycoming County, PA, he graduated (physically last) from Loyalsock Township High School. He played ice hockey for both the Williamsport Wings and Williamsport Loggers in the Susquehanna Valley Junior and Senior Hockey Leagues, respectively. Having failed to be drafted into the NHL or even invited to skate Canadian Juniors, he embarked upon a failed academic career within the Penn State University system. Subsequently, Mr. McNichol landed a job in a Baltimore chemical plant doing shift work. Quickly learning the practicalities of the chemical industry, he also learned that he needed to gain an education to move from the plant floor.

Mr. McNichol was extremely proud to accept a degree from Dr. Freeman Hrabowski of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) while walking across the stage floor with three children in tow. The deceased was also a member of the inaugural UMBC Club Ice Hockey team, eventually becoming player/coach. Mr. McNichol would later go on to earn both an MBA and a Masters in International Management from the University of Maryland system, confirming that it is indeed possible to be educated beyond one's intelligence. Mr. McNichol's combined education and practical experience afforded him the ability to assume a global professional role and travel to over 40 countries on 6 continents.

Upon graduation from UMBC, Mr. McNichol accepted a position in Germany's Rhineland, where he lived and worked for two years. Here the seed was planted for the deceased to become an avid supporter of "die Schwarzgelben," Borussia Dortmund, Mr. McNichol's football side in the Bundesliga.

Mr. McNichol was active in many social and cultural activities in his life, including as a volunteer youth sports coach during his children's formative years. He was also extremely active in Baltimore's Irish community for many years, espousing the peaceful democratic transition to a united 32 county Ireland. Mr. McNichol was also proud to be "left of center" on most domestic policies. Later in life, Mr. McNichol took up both tennis and curling and was equally unremarkable at both.

Mr. McNichol was proud to raise his children in the Baltimore area but was also thankful for the opportunity to live in Manhattan later in his career. For reasons still unclear to the deceased, Mr. McNichol agreed to move to "Flori-duh" a.k.a. "God's waiting room," home to dimwitted native-born Floridians as well as those from New York who apparently "couldn't make it there."

A Memorial Mass will be held for Mr. McNichol at the Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore, MD, 409 Cathedral Street Baltimore, MD 21201 on December 7, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. A proper Irish wake will then be held at an undisclosed shebeen in the Baltimore area.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to The Marni McNichol Scholarship Fund, c/o The Amystrong Foundation, P. O. Box 713, Hanover, MD 21076. For additional information, please visit http://www.amystrong.org/scholarship.html.