John F. "Jack" McKENNA

1934 - 2017

McKENNA, JOHN "JACK" F.
passed away at his home on Thursday, March 23, 2017. He was the son of John and Loretta (Lenehan) McKenna.
Born in Providence, RI on November 26, 1934, Jack attended Blessed Sacrament School and Mount Pleasant High School before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He served honorably in the Mediterranean on the U.S.S. Rigel. Upon discharge, Jack returned to work on the railroad as a trainman. For more than 36 years, Jack worked for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, Pennsylvania Central, Conrail and Amtrak. He retired as a conductor in 1993. Jack's distinguished career on the railroad was marked by his kindness, his commitment to his passengers and his dedication to safe transportation. Never was this more evident than in December of 1990 when, in the aftermath of a horrendous train crash, despite his own serious injury, Jack displayed courage and heroism in service to his injured and frightened passengers.
A "snowbird" since 1986, Jack and his wife, Mary (Reid) McKenna, divided their time between Fort Myers, FL and North Kingstown, RI. Jack was a golfer as well as an active member of his church and several fraternal organizations.
In addition to his wife, Mary, Jack is survived by his sister Jane Conroy. He was predeceased by his sister Ann Corcoran, his sister-in-law, Catherine Chandley, his brothers-in-law, Ernest Conroy, Thomas Corcoran and James Chandley and his nephew, Robert Corcoran. Although Jack and Mary had no children, their many nieces and nephews are devoted to them. He will be especially missed by Maureen and Bruce Bowen, Eileen Corcoran, Shannon Chandley and Tom Silvia, Christine and David Fish, Jane Chandley, and Sue Murray, with whom Mary and Jack spent many summers.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Francis de Sales Church on Friday, June 16, 2017 at 10:00am with a collation to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jack's memory to McAuley House Ministries, 622 Elmwood Ave., Providence RI, 02907 or Harry Chapin Food Bank, 3760 Fowler St., Fort Myers, FL 33901 would be welcomed and much appreciated.