John William McGrath
(of blessed memory)
John passed away at his home in Lenox, MA on Jan. 16, 2021 at the age of 73, after a long illness. Born in Adams, MA on June 10, 1947, he was the son of Harold and Margaret Harrington McGrath. A graduate of Adams Memorial High School and Berkshire Community College, he attended UMass Amherst and graduated magna cum laude from Western New England College with a BS in Business Administration. He joined the United States Navy and served on the USS Lexington, USS John F Kennedy, USS Compass Island and in Oceanographic Development Squadron 8 from 1967 - 1971. He was honorably discharged as a first-class petty officer. John then served as an investigator for the US Treasury Department / IRS. He was a revenue officer in the westernmost five counties of Massachusetts. He also served as the Commissioner’s Representative for Pittsfield for many years. A volunteer for the Combined Federal Campaign for over 30 years, he was a many-time chairman of the local board for Berkshire County. In total, he served his country for a combined 40-plus years under nine presidential administrations.
John enjoyed sports and participated in various volleyball leagues as a player, coach, scorer, and board member. He was a life member of the Adams Turners and a former trustee. John was also a long-time board member and treasurer for the Irish American Organization of Berkshire County.
He was a dedicated, loving father to his two children, regularly attending his daughter’s Irish dance lessons and his son’s piano lessons. He encouraged both his children’s spiritual growth and supported their pursuit of advanced Judaic study and practice. He was a kind and gentle man who loved reading and solving a good mystery, with an eye for accuracy and fine details.
John was very connected to his heritage, finding great joy in researching and chronicling the family tree. He was also a believer in personal responsibility, collective civic duty, and social justice.
He took great pride in his children, and his nine beautiful grandchildren were the light of his life.
John was predeceased by his younger brother David H. McGrath of Adams MA in 2016.
The second of four children, John leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews; his older brother Neil McGrath of Cobb Island, MD; his younger sister Maura McGrath Morrison of Greenfield, MA; and his sister-in-law Kyle McGrath of Adams MA.
John will be forever be missed, honored, and lovingly remembered by his son, Moshe Holender of Monsey, NY; his daughter Mageena Tom, of Henderson, NV; their spouses, and their children.