In Memory: John David “Jack” Hartigan, Age 93
John David Hartigan, “Jack,” died peacefully on October 15, 2024 at age 93. He was predeceased by Nancy, his wife of 43 years, and is survived by Peggy, his second wife of 27 years; four children; ten grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
Jack was the son of Irish immigrants John Hartigan and Margaret Durcan. Born in Manhattan on January 31, 193, he was raised in the Bronx, where he attended parochial school and Fordham Preparatory School. He went on to attend St. John’s University, where he met his future wife Nancy Poole. When he finished his undergraduate degree, he attended Columbia Law School and graduated in 1953. Following his successful completion of the New York State Bar Exam, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was selected to enter the Counter Intelligence Corps and was scheduled to be deployed to Okinawa.
Jack married his first wife Nancy on May 8,1954 at St. Gregory’s Church in Manhattan. After a brief honeymoon, he left for Okinawa, where he spent a year in post-Korean War service. When he returned from Okinawa, he began a long career as a corporate lawyer and settled in Bayside, Queens and later Rye, New York where he and Nancy raised a family of five children: John, Anne, Carol, Patti and Tom. Sadly, his oldest son John and his wife Nancy predeceased him by many years. After Nancy died, Jack married Margaret “Peggy” Byrne and moved to Manhattan, where they resided for ten years. They subsequently lived in Chevy Chase and Rockville, Maryland as well as Dover, Delaware. In 2021 when they moved to Charlottesville, Virginia to be closer to family.
After Jack retired, he continued to serve pro bono as counsel for various causes and wrote articles that appeared in publications such as the “New York Times” and the “Wall Street Journal.” He remained sharp and intelligent until his final days and won his last case (against the Dover Zoning Board) on July 20, 2019 — at the age of 88. He read the news every day and could argue politics with anyone — if you let him.
He also remained active in the Catholic church and enjoyed studying the Bible and having theological discussions with his peers. He was an avid reader of mystery novels and loved Irish music, jazz, Broadway show tunes and 50s rhythm and blues. Jack had a quick wit and an excellent sense of humor and was referred to in his college yearbook as “the poor man’s Fred Allen” (a popular comedian of the day). He remained sharp and intelligent until his final days.
When he died, grandchildren traveled from California, Connecticut, Boston, North Carolina and Florida to pay their respects. A Memorial Mass was held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlottesville on October 17, 2024. That night, a Hunter’s moon lit the skies over Charlottesville, a symbol of light and grace for a life well lived.
Jack will be buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York next to his Nancy, his first wife. Donations may be made in his honor to LittleSistersofthePoor.org
