Jack passed on February 4, 2025 surrounded by his devoted and loving family. The finality of his passing has been heartbreaking, but his sense of humor, words of wisdom, worldly guidance, infectious laugh, and enduring love will be cherished by his family and friends forever.

Jack is survived by his wife, Carol, his classmate in kindergarten, whom he dated for six years and was happily married to for fifty-four years. He was the adoring father of Jennifer Reardon and Melissa Barlit. He was a hands-on Dad from their birth, bonding during 2:00 AM feedings, then teaching them the skills of riding bikes, driving cars, navigating computers, and ultimately guiding them to make good choices and develop strong values. He was proud of the teaching careers that they pursued and the families that they nurtured with their husbands Peter Reardon and Phil Barlit. Their greatest gifts to him were his grandchildren: Madison and Jackson Reardon and Lindsay Cormier. The pride and love that he felt and expressed for his family was limitless.

Jack began his career as an elementary teacher in the Rockland Public Schools and thoroughly enjoyed teaching his students each day. After eleven years of teaching and coaching, Jack decided to explore other opportunities that had been presented to him. This led to him becoming a Certified Financial Planner and Investment Advisor. He founded and became president of his own firm, Strategic Financial Services in Norwell. Jack continued to use his teaching skills in this new endeavor by explaining to his clients how they could best financially plan for their future. These clients became life-long friends to Jack. He also mentored several future colleagues as they entered the field of finance and helped guide them to achieve success as they helped their own clients. He succeeded in fulfilling his vision of making a difference in the lives of many, a legacy that continues to this day.

Jack was the treasurer of the Rockland Education Foundation for over 25 years and served on the Board of Directors since its inception in 1996. It was an organization that was near and dear to his heart and he worked diligently to raise funds to enhance the learning experiences for the students in Rockland. He was also proud to be on the Board of Directors at the Mountain One Bank in Rockland and he was one of its Corporators.

Jack enjoyed listening to music and embraced three song titles throughout his life: “Live Like You Were Dying”, “What a Wonderful World”, and “I Did It My Way”. As a result, he had no regrets during the past two years as cancer slowly compromised his body.

He and Carol began their traveling adventures on their Bermudian honeymoon and the following year spent six weeks traveling cross-country exploring forty-two states in a Mustang and sleeping in a pup tent. He would later add Hawaii and one of his favorite states, Alaska, to the list. When he began his many travels abroad, China was by far his most unique trip, and his favorite vacation was the Mediterranean cruise with his children and grandchildren. His first cruise, however, was the one he and Carol organized with over a hundred friends who became known as “The Motley Cruisers” and who enjoyed several additional cruises together. The first time he sailed a boat was his small Sunfish and his last sail was on an amazing trip with friends to the British Virgin Islands. His passion for genealogy and his pride of being 100% Irish led to two trips to Ireland. And a timeshare in Cabo San Lucas led to numerous visits in the past 25 years. He was happy to say that his traveling bucket list had been completed!

Jack helped his Dad build a cottage in Saquish the year that he graduated from U-Mass Amherst. He then used that knowledge to build a bunkroom in the North Conway house that the McGraths shared with the Woodwards for almost 20 years. During that time Jack shared hours on the ski slopes with his family and friends and helped organize the annual Black Fly Tournament when the snow had melted. Vacations to New Hampshire were by far his favorite and he and Carol traveled there often for over forty years. For the past ten years, Jack and Carol have enjoyed their retirement years by splitting their time at their home in Venice, Florida and living in Hanover near their family.

Jack and Carol were blessed with wonderful friends and Jack was always planning activities to bring everyone together including annual activities such as New Year’s Eve parties, Masters Tournament gatherings, Kentucky Derby celebrations, Hasty Pudding/Dinner excursions, Murder Mystery parties, and charades. BUT Super Bowl extravaganzas were his specialty! He began organizing them in the 1990s and continued until 2022! He became known for building a special shrine honoring the Patriots each year to which his friends added memorabilia when they came to celebrate!

Jack’s enthusiasm for sports began with youth sports which led to him playing varsity football and basketball at Rockland High School where he graduated in 1967. He would return to coach within the girls’ track and basketball programs at RHS. He eventually became addicted to the game of golf and became a member of the Indian Pond Golf Course in Kingston and the Venetian Golf and River Club in Venice, Florida. He developed lasting friendships at these courses and once again organized activities to bring everyone together including Saturday Morning Matches and Myrtle Beach adventures. And, when Pickleball became the latest craze, he honed his skills and enjoyed many hours on the courts. Athletically, Jack always enjoyed a challenge and that led to him running countless 5K races and then onto marathons in Boston and New York.

Jack would be the first to tell you that he was a lucky man and that he lived a wonderful life!

Jack is survived by his sisters Susan Ryan and Carol Baker and her husband Ben, his sister-in-law Denise Warren and her husband Rob, his niece Katie Low and her husband Chris and son Will, his nieces Sara, Jessica, Jill and Emily, his nephews Jordan (Aaron), Justin, Jeremy (Lori) and Matthew. He was pre-deceased by his parents Pat and Dick McGrath, his in-laws Helen and Bill Mencke, his brother-in-law Bill Mencke, and his niece Michelle.

The family invites you to celebrate Jack’s life with them on Saturday, February 8th from 1:00-4:00 at the Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home, 135 Union Street, Rockland.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in honor of Jack could be sent to the Rockland Education Foundation, PO Box 764, Rockland, MA 02370