JOHN DANIEL MCGONAGLE

1942 - 2022

McGONAGLE, John Daniel October 20, 1942 - November 11, 2022 Age 80, the founder and longtime owner of Seacoast Harley-Davidson, and resident of Governor's Island, NH, and Naples, FL, died peacefully on November 11, 2022. John was a decorated Marine Corps pilot, successful businessman, bibliophile, and a dedicated alumnus of both Hebron Academy and Colgate University. A loyal friend and mentor to many, John had a lifelong passion for motorcycles, World War II history, and college hockey, spending his free time traveling the roadways of the U.S. on one of his favorite Harleys. He would often take a break from the road and his Harley-Davidson dealerships to attend an ECAC or Hockey East match with family and friends around New England, and to enjoy the peaceful solitude of his longtime home on Lake Winnipesaukee to read, boat, and swim. Born on October 20,1942, in Belmont, MA, he was the fourth child of Edward Francis McGonagle and Sarah Quinn McGonagle. John graduated from Hebron Academy in Maine in 1961, where he was Captain of the hockey team his senior year. A lifelong supporter of Hebron Academy, John received the school's Distinguished Service Award in 2019. The McGonagle Pavilion, an extension of Hebron's Robinson Hockey Arena, was made possible by John's financial support. John went on to attend Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, studying Political Science, serving as a defenseman on the Raider hockey team, and earning his Bachelor's Degree in 1965. A proud member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, John forged profound friendships at Colgate that lasted his entire life. As a Colgate alumnus, John remained active in recruiting hockey players for several years, and later had the privilege as a member of the Class of '65 to fundraise for and dedicate the new state-of-the-art hockey arena in 2016. John took particular pride in ensuring that the ice surface in Colgate's Class of 1965 Arena is known as Steven J. Riggs '65 Rink in honor of the former men's ice hockey team captain. Riggs was killed in combat in Vietnam in 1968 and was inducted posthumously into the Colgate Athletics Hall of Honor. Upon graduation from Colgate University, John immediately went into the U.S. Marine Corps for aviation training. He attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) and preflight training in Pensacola, FL, in late 1965, followed by Basic Jet Training in Meridian, MS. In late 1966, he attended Advanced Jet Fighter and Attack Training at Beeville, Texas, and was awarded his "wings" in mid-1967. John flew for the Marine Corps for the next four years and completed one and a half tours in Vietnam. During his military career, John was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Frame Meritorious Unit Citation. Upon leaving the Marine Corps in late 1971, John went to work for PSA airlines in California, and later to Eastern Airlines for 20 years, a period in his life he himself described as "uneventful," although he did enjoy playing all over the world on the Eastern Airlines hockey team. A lifelong love of motorcycles led him to purchase a small, six-employee motorcycle dealership in North Hampton, NH, in 1989, and Seacoast Harley-Davidson was created. In 1992, The New England Police Vehicle Leasing, Inc. was established under the Seacoast Harley-Davidson corporate family to serve the motorcycle needs of the New England police community. After 25 years, Seacoast Harley-Davidson grew to three dealerships and approximately 180 employees, including the two largest dealerships in New Englan, Seacoast Harley-Davidson and Boston Harley-Davidson in Everett, MA, as well as Rochester Harley-Davidson in Rochester, NH. Under John's leadership, Seacoast Harley-Davidson was a perennial recipient of the H-D® Motor Co. Bar & Shield Circle of Excellence Award (including years 1995, 1996, and 1998-2003) as well as being voted "Best Small Co. to Work For in NH" by Business NH Magazine from 1998 to 2002. John believed in hiring talented and hardworking employees and treating those employees well. Several of those hires continue to own and operate the Seacoast Harley-Davidson family of dealerships to this day, continuing a legacy of excellence. John is predeceased by his parents, his half-brother, William McGonagle; and half-sister, Emily McGonagle. He is survived by his siblings, Sarah Catherine McGonagle, Jane McGonagle Kenney, and Edward Francis McGonagle, Jr.; 12 nieces and nephews, as well as numerous close friends who were like family to him. Services will be held at the following location and date: -Calling Hours at J. Vern Wood Funeral Home, 2-5pm Sunday, November 20, PORTSMOUTH, NH. -Gathering of Remembrance 6-8:30pm Sunday, November 20 at Martingale Wharf Restaurant, Portsmouth, NH. -Mass at Cathedral Church Chapel, 10am Monday, November 21, Portland, ME, followed by Burial at Calvary Cemetery in Portland, ME In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Hampshire, an organization John supported during his life. For online condolences, visit: www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com Arrangements are under the direction and care of J. Verne Wood Funeral Home, Buckminster Chapel, 84 Broad Street, Portsmouth, NH. J. Verne Wood Funeral Home

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