An only child born in Jersey City on April 13,1934 to Francis and Grayce McMahon (nee Scanlan), John F. “Jack” McMahon relished life. He took on many roles in the 90 years God gifted him on this earth—public defender, law school professor, master gardener, and crabber of the Navesink River. To many, he was “the best boss I ever had,” and he was a role model for the young lawyers who were fortunate enough to dedicate a portion of their careers to the indigent and marginalized.
All those roles, and many more, were made possible by the gift of meeting and marrying Patricia Doherty early in his journey. The life Jack and Pat built and shared with so many was one of love, service, travel, and adventure; altogether, it was extraordinarily amazing. On June 18, 2024, Jack passed away in the arms of Pat and surrounded by his family.
Although raised in Orange, NJ, Jack always spoke of Jersey City and Orange as his two hometowns. Worldly even at a young age, he would take the train into Manhattan alone at only 9 years old to meet his father, who worked at General Cigar, and the two would head up to Yankee Stadium. He loved those games with his father and his lifelong devotion to the Yankees was rooted in those memories. Fishing trips with his father likewise inspired his love of the sea.
His love of the sea was deepened by summers spent at the Jersey Shore. His mother Grayce was a Scanlan and the Scanlans would leave Jersey City to summer at the shore with his father taking the train down on the weekends until his vacation time began. Jack would often describe those road trips with Ma and Pa Scanlan and the routes traveled prior to the existence of the Garden State Parkway. Such adventures.
Jack’s parents enrolled him at Seton Hall Prep, beginning an association with Seton Hall that would continue throughout the rest of his life. He graduated from Seton Hall Prep in 1951, then from Seton Hall University, and then from Seton Hall Law School as valedictorian. Jack maintained his relationship with “The Hall” as an adjunct professor at the law school, teaching criminal trial practice for close to 30 years. During much of that time he was an adjunct professor at Rutgers Law School where he taught evidence. He was a favorite at both schools and his classes were always over-enrolled. Jack was particularly proud when, in 1990, he was named as Seton Hall Law School’s Distinguished Alumni.
Two years after meeting, Jack and Pat married on March 8, 1958. Drafted into the United States Army, Jack was stationed in Aschaffenburg, Germany. Pat joined him there and they had a wonderful time throughout Europe. When thanked for his service, Jack was quick to point out that “it wasn’t voluntary.” Jack and Pat cemented their lifelong love during these years, alone in Germany and touring Europe.
Returning home from “their” Army service in 1959—they were universally known as one indivisible unit— they had little alone time left. They quickly set about introducing a brood of misfits, miscreants and sometimes co-conspirators into the neighborhoods of West Orange. In 1971, Jack and Pat moved their just-beginning family of 6 to the shores of the Navesink River in the bucolic town of Rumson. Some claim they fled as the heat closed in on them. Others accepted Pat’s innocent explanation, offered with a shrug of her shoulders, that “We just kept having babies.” And they did. Jack and Pat eventually had 9 children— John, Robert, Owen, Kate, Timmy, Terry, Patrick, Deirdre and Michael—and Rumson would never be the same.
Every day, shortly after breakfast, Jack and Pat told the kids to “Get out of the house!” And they did. They swam and explored every inch of the Navesink. They crabbed and fished, they sledded and ice skated, they played in the many parks, and they trespassed on the many estates. They were known collectively as the McMahon kids and, even individually, they were known in relation to each other, as “the brother of” or “sister of,” a title that would usually evoke pride but, at times, dread. The children flourished in this home of little material wealth, boundless love, and the benign neglect that was a hallmark of childhood in the 70’s and 80’s. They remain eternally grateful to Jack and Pat for the childhood they provided, the town they picked, and the seemingly endless supply of co-conspirators, now into its third generation.
Jack was devoted to his family but he shared himself with countless others. Shortly after graduating law school, Jack was chosen to be a founding member of New Jersey’s largest State Public Defender’s Office in Essex County under the leadership of Leonard Ronco. Jack established himself there and began wielding his cross-examination skills, knowledge of the rules, law, facts of the case, and overriding sense of justice to inflict courtroom pain on anyone seeking to deprive his clients of their liberty, be they prosecutors, police or judges. A trial lawyer’s trial lawyer, Jack would regularly be asked why he would not seek a judgeship. “Who wants to be a first base umpire when you can be Don Mattingly?” was his constant reply. Rising to become a chief trial attorney in that office, Jack tried many memorable cases and although he did not win them all, he was proud to have won acquittals in every death penalty case he tried.
Jack took a leave of absence from the Essex County Public Defenders Office to join the defense team representing Daniel and Philip Berrigan, SSJ (among others) who were charged as members of the Camden 28 Group for their protest actions against the Vietnam war. His efforts helped in obtaining a hung jury.
In 1973, the Federal Court for the District of New Jersey created a Federal Defender’s Office and Jack was hired as First Assistant. In 1977, Jack was appointed as the Federal Public Defender for the District of New Jersey, a position he held until he retired in 1997. He set himself apart as a masterful cross-examiner, an attorney whom jurors knew to trust and adversaries knew to dread and respect. There are too many stories to tell and none would be done justice if not told by a contemporary with a pint in hand, preferably in McGovern’s Tavern in Newark. As the boss he had a knack for selecting the brightest and most skilled attorneys for the daunting task of combatting the government. But more importantly, each and every one of them was a good and decent person and it was reflected in the office culture, which became an extension of family and continues to this day. They were and are proud to be known as “the best lawyers that money can’t buy.” And Jack is credited with building that office into one of the most respected Federal Defender offices in the country.
Jack took immense pride in defending the least fortunate in society. He demanded that his clients receive the same justice as the rich and powerful. His work ethic, devotion to his craft, and pride in his representation of those accused was an inspiration to all attorneys, especially those in both the State and Federal public defender offices.
Upon his retirement and with their children now grown, Jack and Pat grew restless and found themselves once again scheming at the kitchen table. There were so many adventures to have, trips to take, and lands to explore. They would come to know every inch of their “enchanted isle” of Puerto Rico, once more explore Europe, take in London plays, and regularly cruise aboard the Queen Mary 2. Each adventure would end by early Spring so that he could begin planting his enormous garden—his happiness and his passion. Years of bountiful harvests would see every visitor leaving their home with bags of vegetables and likely, a bunch of flowers. He would leave his garden each day, when the tide was right, to check his crab traps and bring home a bucket of blue claws which Pat would steam, clean, and transform into her signature crab cakes.
Jack’s greatest legacy will be the family he and Pat grew. Jack would regularly remind his children that he was an only child orphaned at the age of 28, and Jack and Pat put to rest any concern that he would be the last of his clan. His 9 children, 15 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren (stay tuned) will miss their Dad, their Papa Jack and their Dude. But there are stories to be told and his exploits are epic, befitting of the great chieftain he was.
Jack lived a LIFE! A wonderful, amazing, joyful and meaningful life! And he enriched every life that he touched on his journey!
Jack is predeceased by his father Frank McMahon, mother Grayce (Scanlan) and cousin, Sister Delores Walsh. He is survived by his wife of over 66 years, Patricia Ann (Doherty);his children John (Mari), Robert, Owen, Kate (Michael) Sharkey, Tim (Heather), Terry (Sarah), Patrick (Ilona), Deirdre and Michael (Tracy); his grandchildren: John, Mary (Christopher) Barcellona, Peadar, Liam, Michael F., Zaniah, Melia, Marykate, Emmett, Aiden, Billy (Cailyn), Jake, Jack, Alex and Michael T.; and his great grandchildren Lucy and Beckett. As well as his cousin Deborah (Randy) Lyons.
Of the many, many gifts Jack and Pat bestowed on their children, one of their greatest was the lifelong friendship with Tom and Joan Higgins and their own untamed brood, Steven, Susan, Tommy, Elizabeth, Michael and their families. They may not be related to the McMahons by blood, but they are in everyway family. Tom, Jack’s First Assistant, may appear inconsolable but the McMahon kids are mindful that he will likely attempt to revise the achievements and results of any number of Outer Banks beach football and basketball games played between the two families in their 50 years of friendship.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 23rd from 1-4 pm at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ 07701.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 24th at 11 am at St. Anthony's of Padua Catholic Church, 27 Oratory Way, Red Bank, NJ 07701. Interment will be private.
