More detail on this person: John L. Jack
Shanahan, Jr., 71, beloved husband of Katherine
Kathie (McCarty) Shanahan and devoted father of
Kate Shanahan, died on Monday July 13, 2015 at
the North Shore Medical Center-Salem Hospital
while in the comforting presence of his family and
caring medical team, following a brief illness.
Born in Lynn, he was the son of the late John L.
and M. Virginia (Foley) Shanahan, Sr. He grew up
in Swampscott, and graduated from St. Marys Boys
High School in Lynn. In 1965, he graduated from
the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, and
later earned a masters degree in Accountancy from
Bentley College in Waltham. He was a Certified
Public Accountant. Jack joined the Army in 1966,
becoming a helicopter pilot. He deployed to
Vietnam in 1967 with an Air Cavalry Unit (C Troop
7th Squadron 17th Air Cavalry) as a gunship pilot.
Shot down while on a mission, Jack rescued his
crew and assisted them to safety despite being
wounded in the head. After recovering from his
wounds, he returned to his unit to complete his
first tour of duty in Vietnam. In 1970, he
returned for a second tour as a pilot, serving as
a Platoon Commander in an Assault Helicopter
Company. Jack was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Bronze Star and
several Air Medals. His unit was awarded the
Presidential Unit Citation. Jack left active duty
in 1971 and joined the Army Reserve. He was
ordered to active duty and served his third combat
tour as a Lieutenant Colonel during the 1991 Gulf
War. He retired from the military in 1997. His
ties to the military and the friends he made there
were strong throughout his life. After his return
to the United States, Jack was employed by the
FAA as an Air Traffic Controller until 1981. He
then became a CPA and was employed by Tofias,
Fleishman & Shapiro Accounting Firm before joining
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in
Boston as a Financial Analyst. Jack always said
his greatest accomplishment and joy in life was
being Kates Dad. Patiently teaching her the
practical elements of life, listening and offering
sound advice, and supporting her through all of
her endeavors, he eagerly awaited each new
chapter in her life. He shared with her his love
of history, keen debating and critical thinking
skills and the value of integrity. He and his wife
Kathie spent many years as team members in the
Marriage Preparation Program for engaged couples
at St. Anns Parish in Peabody. He is survived by
his wife Kathie (McCarty) Shanahan of Peabody,
with whom he shared 39 years of marriage; a
cherished daughter Kate Shanahan of Somerville; a
brother Edward Ted Shanahan and his wife Rae of
Scituate and sister Mary Murdock and her husband
Steve of Woodinville, WA; a cousin Elizabeth
OConnor of Lynn; sisters-in-law Maryann Gahagan
and Patricia Shanahan; brother-in-law James
McCarty; and 10 nieces and nephews, Karen
Gahagan of Salem, Nancy Leonard & her husband
Jeff of Lexington, Paula Tap & her husband Matt of
Natick, Jacqueline Kaiser & her husband Neal of
Swampscott, David Shanahan of Somerville,
Michael Shanahan and Matthew Shanahan both of
Scituate, Dan Murdock & his wife Rebecca of
Raleigh, NC, Matthew Murdock and Elissa Murdock
both of Woodinville, WA. He was preceded in death,
besides his parents, by a brother William
Shanahan. Relatives and friends are kindly invited
to gather on Saturday July 18, 2015 at 10 AM from
the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn
St., Peabody, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 AM
in St. Richards Church, Danvers. A visitation will
be held on Friday July 17th from 4 | 8 P.M. in the
funeral home. Burial will be in St. Marys
Cemetery, Lynn. In honor of the wonderful nursing
care Jack received, memorial donations, annotated
In Memory of Jack Shanahan to benefit a nurses
education fund may be made to NSMC, 81 Highland
Ave., Salem, MA 01970 Attn: Foundation
Department. Please visit www.ccb funeral.com for
online obituary & sign condolences.
Published in The Danvers Herald from July 17 to
July 24, 2015
This information was last updated 09/03/2014
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association