John Patrick McGinn

John Patrick McGinn, longtime resident of Las Cruces, NM, passed away on the morning of July 15, 2025. John was born March 30, 1950, in Manhattan, NY, the second of six children. In 1967, the family moved to Las Cruces, and John and his sister Geri attended NMSU. John and Geri remained in Las Cruces when the rest of their family moved back to New York City. John and Deborah McGinn got married in 1968, and after some traveling, settled in Hill, NM. In 1974, they moved to York, PA, so that John could join Debbie's father, Stewart Whittier, in his engineering company. In 1979, the family returned to New Mexico. John worked for several construction companies and surveying companies; however, in 1986, he started his own construction company, which specialized in custom-designed and built solar adobe homes. He retired his business, John McGinn Design and Construction, in January 2001 and accepted a position at New Mexico State University, where he worked in the Planning and Facilities Department. He retired in 2013. John and Debbie had three children and enjoyed a long, happy marriage of 58 years.

John loved, and filled his life, with music. He shared his music in many ways with many friends and family. In his youth, he made his living playing music. As an adult, there was no music he loved more than the hymns in our hymn book. He began each morning reading and meditating on them, and often, they led him to where to read in the Bible that morning.

John is survived by his wife Debbie and children: Damon McGinn, his wife Selina and children Antonia and Liam; Mary McGinn, her husband Reuben Steinberg and their children Heidi and Milo; Brendan McGinn, his wife Heather and their children Holly and Theodosia. Also, Brendan's children, by a previous marriage, Sebastian, Sadie, Rowan, and Nola. He is also survived by his sister Geraldine and husband Jim Jackson, and brothers Kevin, McGinn, Brian McGinn and wife Kelly, Neil McGinn and wife Julie and Michael McGinn and wife Barbara. He also has many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth McGinn, father, Joseph McGinn and granddaughter, Molly Steinberg.

A memorial service will be held for John at Perches Grahams Funeral Home, 555 Amador Ave, Las Cruces, NM on Saturday, August 23rd at 10:30 AM