Jack Edwin McGregor

Jack Edwin McGregor, founder of the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL franchise and a former Pennsylvania state senator, died at his home on January 6, 2026, in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, at age 91. Jack's life began and ended in Pennsylvania. In between, he did a lot of things in a lot of places. He was born in Kittanning, Pa., on September 22, 1934 to Russell and Leah (Hampton) McGregor, and had a happy childhood with brother Jim and sisters Jean and Janice. His family moved to Pittsburgh when Jack was 4 and he launched his business career at age 7, delivering newspapers on his bicycle. An outstanding student, Jack graduated from Wilkinsburg High School in Pittsburgh and won a full scholarship to Yale University where he was a member of Skull & Bones, served in the ROTC, and married Carol Dangerfield of Pittsburgh. Children Nancy, Douglas, Betsey, and Heather followed in short order. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S Marine Corps after graduating from Yale cum laude in 1956, and served for several years, attaining the rank of Captain. After the Marine Corps, Jack went to law school at the University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated 1st in his class and was the editor in chief of the law review. While still in law school, Jack ran for and was elected to the Pennsylvania Senate. He served two terms in the Senate and was one of the youngest members ever.

An avid sports fan, Jack organized a successful effort to bring a National Hockey League franchise to Pittsburgh. In addition to being a founder and owner of the team, Jack served as the team's first President and its representative to the NHL's board of governors. His wife Carol named the franchise the Penguins. When the Penguins began play at "the Igloo" in 1967, Jack dropped the ceremonial first puck before the first game. When the team celebrated its 50th year as a franchise in 2017, Jack again dropped the puck at center ice.

Jack practiced law but his real interest was business. After selling his stake in the Penguins, Jack and Carol moved their family to Washington, D.C. when he was appointed the general counsel of the U.S. Pay Board by President Nixon. From there he became vice president and general counsel of PEPCO, then moved to New York as the executive vice president of Carey Energy Corp., for whom he negotiated business deals with government officials in numerous countries. Along the way, Jack founded Hampton Douglas Corp., an international venture capital firm whose investments took Jack around the world. Jack later moved to Connecticut to become President and CEO of publicly traded Aquarian Water Company.

After his first marriage ended in divorce, Jack and his second wife Mary-Jane Foster founded the Bridgeport Bluefish, a minor league baseball team in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a venture that helped lead the revitalization of the downtown waterfront in Bridgeport.

Though he did not serve again in elective office after his career in the Pennsylvania Senate, Jack maintained a lifelong interest and involvement in politics. He played significant roles in many congressional, gubernatorial, and presidential campaigns. Friends and family members knew that conversations with Jack around the dinner table or in front of the fireplace eventually would turn to current events. Jack knew almost every U.S. president from Dwight Eisenhower (whom he adored) to Donald Trump (whom he did not). In between, he was deeply engaged in politics and public service at every level, including serving as President Bush 41's appointee as chairman of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

Jack was a voracious reader. In the last two weeks of his life he was reading and making notations in William Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury," a new history about Winston Churchill, and a photo book about the history of Pittsburgh. He loved politics, history, walks in the woods with his dogs (of which he had many), golf, tennis, travel, spectator sports, and competition of every type. He did not "let" anyone win, whether it was in a high-stakes business deal or a game of Wahoo with his children and grandchildren. Jack McGregor was enormously proud of his Scottish roots. His children grew up with stories about the relentless fighting spirit of Clan McGregor, and Jack organized numerous extended McGregor family reunions. Jack loved the sound of bagpipes, but would want the tune played for his death to be a celebratory one, not mournful. He packed an incredible amount and variety of personal accomplishments into his long and happy life.

In 2018, Jack married Joannah Purnell McGregor of Mifflinburg, spending his final years happily with her in stimulating conversations, reading and traveling. Jack is survived by Joannah, his children Nancy McGregor (Neal Manne), Douglas McGregor (Jen), Betsey Ives (David), and Heather Worthington (Mike), his sister Janice Wren (Ron), 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

A private memorial will be held by Jack's family later this year. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations to the charity of your choice or your enthusiastic attendance at a Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game.