John Patrick Cosgrove

John Patrick Cosgrove, age 77, of Laporte, Pa., passed away at home on Friday, May 23, 2014 with his loving spouse at his side.

John was born in Laporte, Pa., on Jan. 3, 1937, a son of the late Thomas Patrick and Anna Buschausen Cosgrove. He graduated from Eastern High School in southeastern Washington D.C in 1955. He was the first in his family to attend college and graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering in 1960. Upon graduation from college he earned a commission in the Navy and served as a pilot in the Navy's reserve anti-submarine / search and rescue Helicopter Squadron 75 known as the "Emerald Knights" based out of Lakehurst, N.J. John was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight rescue missions over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre during the severe flooding from hurricane Agnes in 1972. On occasion, John was known to buzz Lake Mokoma, his brother Tom's house in Laporte, and even maneuvered a few unscheduled landings on the Sullivan County H.S. soccer field. He retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 1978.

John began his professional commercial career as a test pilot and engineer for Boeing-Vertol in Philadelphia, Pa., where he flew helicopters and also worked on the design of the Apollo Space Flight Suit. He joined American Airlines as a Flight Engineer in 1966 based out of LaGuardia Airport in NYC and moved his family to the New Jersey shore, living in the towns of Brick and Fair Haven. In 1990, John and his wife Maureen, moved to Tavernier, Fla., in the Florida Keys when he was transferred to Miami and began flying international routes to South America and the Caribbean. After a long and successful career, John retired as a Captain from American Airlines in 1997.

John's roots run deep throughout Sullivan County where, despite his distant travels, he would always return several times a year with his wife and three children, Bob, Cliff and Carolyn to his home town of Laporte to visit with his family and friends. John purchased a home in Laporte in 1979 where he loved to sit on his porch swing drinking a cup of coffee in the early morning and go for walks throughout the town with Maureen after dinner. John was an avid golfer and a member of the Eagles Mere Country Club where he developed many life-long close friendships and won the Men's Club Championship for his flight class in 2003 and 2010. He was a member of the Lake Mokoma Association and loved to spend time watching his children, nieces, nephews, and later five grandchildren, play at the beach.

John was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Laporte since his early childhood. In his twilight years, he could still be found sitting in his favorite church pew (now in his basement recreational room) praying for a friend in need — or a good round of golf at EMCC!

Surviving: Spouse: Mary "Maureen" Cosgrove; two sons Robert Patrick Cosgrove of South Riding, Va., and Clifford Thomas (Jodi) Cosgrove of Ellicott City, Md.; daughter Carolyn Cecelia Cosgrove of Kalispell, Mont.; two sisters Margaret Anne (John "Bucky") Hall of Sarasota, Fla. and Mary Lucht of Manassas, Va.; a sister-in-law Mary Cosgrove of Laporte, Pa.; grandchildren Conor (21), Delaney (19), Emily (8), Christian (6), and Julia (4); nieces Mary-Jo and Jill; nephews Tom, Mike, Will, John, and Craig; and 8 great nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by an infant sister Helen Cosgrove on November 24, 1935; his brother Thomas H. Cosgrove on November 29, 1996 and a nephew, Patrick William Cosgrove on March 28, 2009.

John was well loved by family, friends and the entire Laporte community. He will be greatly missed.

The family will receive friends on Monday, May 26, 2014 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, Pa.

The family will provide the flowers and asks that Memorial Contribution be directed to the Laporte Volunteer Fire Company.

To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to www.homerfuneralhome.com