Plan for the Future
John L. McDermott
Veteran & Millburn Attorney
John L. McDermott, 86, of Short Hills, NJ, died on October 18, 2017. Born in Newark, raised in Vailsburg, he resided in Short Hills since 1963. He was a 1948 graduate of Seton Hall Prep and a 1953 graduate of Seton Hall University with a BS in Business Administration. He served proudly in the Navy during the Korean War, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant. He was a navigator on the U.S.S. Thomas F. Nickel, D.E. 587. He attended Fordham University Law School from 1957-1958. John graduated from the University of Connecticut Law School in 1961. He worked for Worthington Corporation of Harrison, NJ, in their New York City office, and later the Springfield, Mass office, while going to law school at night. Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Walter Hetfield, A.J.S.C., Union County Superior Court. Thereafter, he began a long legal career, retiring as Senior Partner, at McDermott & McGee, LLP in Millburn, NJ.
He married his beloved wife, Margaret L. McDermott (née Liddy) in 1956. He is survived by his son, John McDermott and daughter-in-law Priscilla, daughters Margaret (Meg) McDermott and Caroline (Carrie) McDermott, son Robert (Bob) McDermott and daughter-in-law Karen, and his seven grandchildren, Brian McCafferty, Kathleen (Katie) McCafferty, Sean McDermott, Erin McDermott, Claire McCafferty, Kevin McDermott & Michael McDermott. John is pre-deceased by his parents, John F. & Elizabeth Lee McDermott, his sister, Kathleen (Kay) Donnelly of Short Hills, NJ, and dear cousin and best friend, Thomas A. Reynolds. Jack was the patriarch of a large extended family and a friend to all.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 23, 2017 at 11:15 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church, 50 Short Hills Avenue, Short Hills followed by the interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, October 22nd, from 2 to 6 pm at the Bradley Smith & Smith Funeral Home, 415 Morris Avenue, Springfield. In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s name may be made to: The Thomas A. Reynolds Scholarship Fund c/o Seton Hall Preparatory School, 120 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052. For further information, or to send the family a condolence, please visit www.www.bradleyfuneralhomes.com.