John Thomas Walsh

John Thomas Walsh, a man deeply devoted to his family and who championed the health of children around the world, passed away Wednesday, October 22, 2025 just a week before his 77th birthday.

John was a man of profound faith; his spirit of generosity and profound kindness touched the lives of countless individuals. He approached life with an unwavering positivity that brightened the days of those around him.

John's passion for children's health made an impact around the world - first in the 1960s and 1970s on the SS Hope. The converted World War II hospital ship was part of Project HOPE, a public-health organization founded by John's father. As a young man in his teens and twenties, John traveled to many developing nations, from Sri Lanka to Brazil, where the ship was a teaching hospital for local doctors.

During the 1980s, John was involved in President Ronald Reagan's Task Force on Private Sector Initiatives, a program to encourage the involvement of corporate America in social issues facing the United States. During that time, John forged some of the closest friendships of his life.

That same decade, John helped to establish a children's hospital in Krakow, Poland, and became well-acquainted with leading Polish figures, including Pope John Paul II and Lech Walesa, the leader of the Solidarity labor movement.

As communism was falling in Eastern Europe, President Reagan asked John to accompany him to Warsaw, Gdansk and Berlin. With John's help, President Reagan met with Lech Walesa at the Gdansk shipyards, where the Solidary movement had been born. Immediately after the fall of the Berlin Wall, John was in Berlin to celebrate that historic moment; he was able to return 30 years later to dedicate a monument to Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate.

John went on to help establish a children's hospital in Shanghai, China, and founded the Aldo Castaneda Institute in Geneva, Switzerland.

John later served in leadership roles at Nemours Cardiac Center in Wilmington, Del., and Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC, both in units focused on leading-edge cardiac care for children.

John received numerous global honors, including the Polish Order of Merit in the Rank of Commander and France's Order of Arts and Letters, among many others. He was also invested as a Knight in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, American Association.

John's first love, however, was his family, and most of all his wife of over 54 years, Mary Grandin Walsh. Both growing up on the same street in the Sumner neighborhood of Bethesda, they were sweethearts from their early teens.

After marrying in 1971, John and Mary had two daughters and two sons – Allyson, Caroline, Johnny and Taylor. In the past two decades, John made sure the family – including the extended family – shared holidays and vacations together, sustaining a deep bond.

As grandchildren arrived, John was an active presence in their upbringing, and he relished the chaos of the 10 grandchildren. John was a constant presence on the sidelines, cheering on his children and grandchildren at countless football, ice hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, figure skating and swim competitions.

When it came to other passions, John had many. Most of all, John loved to help. He was always the person to call for guidance or assistance, especially in the medical field – as he would find the right doctor for a person to see.

John also loved to travel, whether it was to Japan or China for business, or to Disney World or Europe or Jamaica for pleasure.

His beloved Landon School had a major impact on his formative years; during that time, John forged many lifelong friendships and made a mark in both athletics and the choir. As quarterback, he helped lead the Bears to five undefeated seasons in a row; he went on to play soccer at the University of North Carolina. And when the Landon choir performed at the White House, President Eisenhower sought out John after the performance to praise him for his talent.

John maintained a love for athletics and singing all his life. He enjoyed golfing with his friends and family at the Chevy Chase Club or Sea Island, and he enjoyed musical theater, knowing the lyrics to every song, and occasionally singing along to his favorites.

John is survived by his wife, Mary Grandin Walsh; his daughters Allyson (Jay) Hauck, and Caroline (Stephen) DiBenedetto; his sons John (Elizabeth) Walsh and Taylor Walsh; and his grandchildren: Caroline, Charlotte, Madeline, Mary Elizabeth, Allyson, Stephen, Grandin, Teddy, Johnny and Christian. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. William B. Walsh and his mother, Helen Rundvold Walsh. He is also survived by his brothers, William (Jane) Walsh and Thomas (Catherine) Walsh, and by a broad extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews, all of whom were beloved by him.

He was also devoted to his two Boykin Spaniels, Coco and Lottie.

Words do not adequately describe the presence that John Walsh had in his family's life and the lives of others. He was a rock to all who knew him. His memory will be forever cherished, and he will be profoundly missed.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, MD on Friday, November 7 at 11:45 a.m. A private burial at Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown will follow on Saturday, November 8.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in memory of John Thomas Walsh to Children's National Hospital Foundation, Attention: Gift Administration, 1 Inventa Place, 6th Floor West, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or at
www.childrensnational.org/giving