John Anthony McGann
Born on May 11, 1942 in Drumlish, IrelandPassed away July 12, 2026 in Palm Bay, Florida
John McGann, age 84, of Melbourne, Florida passed away peacefully on July 12, 2026.
John was born in Kilmahon, Drumlish, in Longford Ireland in May 1942. He was the 5th of 7 children born to Bernard and Catherine McGann. His Irish heritage remained a source of pride all of John’s life, especially a love for traditional Irish music and the Irish wit.
John trained as a carpenter in Ireland beginning at a vocational technical school as a teenager and spent his life building homes and beautiful wood furniture. He emigrated to New York in 1960 at age 18, joining his sisters, Lena and Louise, already established in the Bronx, and was later joined by his brother, Joe in New York. He served in the US Army from 1963 to 1965, serving overseas in Germany. In addition to being a carpenter, John worked at the New York City Department of Buildings as a site inspector in his last professional capacity applying his lifelong talents for detail and knowledge of a job done right to make New York City a safer place.
John called New York City his home for 40 years before retiring to Melbourne, Florida in 2005.
John will be remembered for having a fun and witty sense of humor. He could be counted on to show up to someone’s house with candy and ice cream for the kids and to spend time playing with them and any dogs present. He had challenges, but we choose to remember his hearty laugh, him with a cigarette and ready for a chat.
John is survived by his children, Sheila and Kieran; grandson, Luke; siblings, Kevin, Lena and Brian. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Catherine, siblings, Joe, Louise and Eugene.
A funeral mass will be held on Monday, July 27 at Church of the Ascension in Melbourne at 10:30 am. The family will receive friends and family at the church beginning at 9:30 am. Military burial, with honors, will follow at Cape Canaveral National Military Cemetery at 1:30 pm. A live stream for both mass and burial will be provided, with details to follow.
On Wednesday, July 29th a funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church at 9:45 am.
OLBS:
34-24 203rd Street
Bayside, NY 11361
Funeral mass will be livestreamed. Details to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in John’s memory to the William Childs Hospice House of Palm Bay, Florida. This is the hospice that cared for John in the last weeks of his life and that care was truly exceptional.
Donations can be sent to:
William Childs Hospice House Donations Click on order a brick paver, at the bottom of that page there is an option for add an additional gift to my order. You can add his name for remembrance.
Checks can be sent:
William Childs Hospice House
381 Medplex Highway
Palm Bay, FL 32907
