John Joseph "Jack" McCormack Jr.

John Joseph McCormack Jr. "Jack" passed away peacefully on November 18, 2025 after a prolonged illness.

Jack was born on January 20, 1938 in Boston, MA to John J. McCormack and Winifred (Hunt) McCormack. He grew up in Brookline, MA, in the neighborhood known as Whiskey Point and there attended St. Mary's High School. Jack was an excellent student, earning a prestigious Ford Foundation scholarship to his alma mater Boston College, where he graduated in 1959 with a B.S. in Chemistry, lettering in both Varsity Cross Country and Track. Jack then went on to study at Yale University, earning a Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 1964.

While a graduate student at Yale, Jack met the love of his life, Grace Mary McGraw, and they were married on June 30, 1962. In 1964 Jack, Grace, and daughter Sheila moved to Australia, where daughter Mary was born. After a prestigious two-year US Cancer Institute Fellowship at the National University in Canberra, where he performed research on a new class of cancer-fighting drugs, Jack joined the faculty of the Pharmacology Department at the University of Vermont's School of Medicine in 1966, and the family settled in the Burlington area where daughter Kristina and son John Patrick were born.

Jack had a long, illustrious career at the University of Vermont spanning nearly five decades, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, serving on numerous committees, advising Ph.D. students, and leading the Retired Faculty Senate. He was most passionate about his research for new cancer treatments and served for many years on the board of the Vermont chapter of the American Cancer Society.

As accomplished as Jack was professionally, he was just as devoted to his children, teaching his daughters to play baseball long before there were girls' softball teams, and coaching his son in hockey and soccer. Jack supported youth sports for many years, coaching BAHA hockey, Burlington Parks and Recreation soccer teams, and Burlington International Games teams, even after his children were grown.

Love of God, family, and music was the foundation of Jack's life. He was an active member of the University of Vermont Newman Center and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception parish in Burlington, where he sang in the choir and served as cantor for many years. Jack shared his love of music as a tenor in several choral groups, including the Vermont Choral Union, Syrinx musical group, and Aurora Chamber Singers. Jack was also a longtime supporter of the Craftsbury Chamber Players and Vermont Mozart Festival. In his later years, Jack loved spending time with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His grandchildren have many fond memories of Jack going to their sporting events and bringing them to UVM hockey games. As the grandchildren grew up and started families of their own, Jack visited them as often as he could wherever they lived.

Jack is survived by his children: Sheila (Jeff), Mary, Kristina, and John (Nina); grandchildren Jeffrey John, Thomas (Shauna), and Matthew Royer; Jasper (Justin) Gruel, Ryan and Jack Fitzgerald; Ciara (Gavin) Greenwalt; Dylan Gumaer, Aiden and Abigail McCormack. Jack is also survived by his great-grandchildren: Adeleine, Charlotte, and Lydia Gruel; and Olive Roisin Greenwalt. Jack is also survived by his sisters Marie McCardle, Irene McCormack, and Barbara Manie, as well as his sisters-in-law Norma McCormack and Mary McGraw, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jack was predeceased by his beloved wife, Grace, his brothers Edward and Thomas McCormack, sisters Jean Mally and Theresa McCormack, brothers-in-law David (and wife Mary), James, and Edward McGraw.

For all his accomplishments and his contributions to both the University of Vermont and to the Burlington community, Jack will be remembered above all to those who knew him for his courtesy, kindness, quick wit, and his unending love for his family.

In lieu of flowers, donations made be made in Jack's name to the American Cancer Society, online https://donate.cancer.org/, or by mail, American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741; or Make A Wish Vermont and Northeast New York, Make-A-Wish Foundation, or by mail, Make A Wish Vermont and Northeast New York, 6655 Shelburne Road Suite 300 Shelburne, VT 05482.

Visiting hours will be held at Ready Funeral Service, 261 Shelburne Rd, Burlington, VT 05401, on Sunday, November 23, 2025, from 5PM to 7PM. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 160 Hinesburg Rd South Burlington, VT 05403, on Monday, November 24, 2025 at 11AM, followed by burial in Resurrection Park Cemetery.