John J. McCooe, 85, Of Ridgewood

Editor’s note: The following obituary was reprinted with permission from the family. It first appeared on the Feeney Funeral Home website.

John J. McCooe passed away peacefully on Nov. 1 at the age of 85 with his wife Bobbie by his side, surrounded in his final days by his children and grandchildren.

Son of the late John and Kathleen McCooe, Jack grew up on New York’s Upper West Side with his younger brother William P. (Bill). Raised by his mother who was widowed when the boys were very young, Jack is a graduate of Cardinal Hayes High School and Fordham University. He is a graduate of City College and St. John’s University School of Law, before beginning a distinguished career as an appellate judge for the state of New York, a fact that made Jack immensely proud.

Jack, a loyal Ram, was an active Fordham alumnus, charter member of the Northern New Jersey Alumni Chapter, and member of The 1841 Society.

Following Fordham, Jack served with the U.S. Army in Korea and Japan. Upon his return from service, he began a long, successful career in human resources for ITT, Sylvania and Clairol, before founding McCooe & Associates, an executive search and management consulting firm, in 1975.

Married in 1961, Bobbie (Barbara Ann née McCarthy) was his faithful partner and the love of his life. Together, Jack and Bobbie raised six children in Ridgewood where they had an extraordinary circle of close friends. Jack was a man of great faith and a parishioner at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Known for his gentle warmth, kindness, and love of life, Jack was sought out for his engaging company and sage counsel.

A keen sportsman, Jack played competitive tennis and paddle tennis at Ridgewood Country Club and Upper Ridgewood Tennis Club. While maintaining his love for New York City, and especially its restaurants, Irish pubs, and performing arts, Jack was never happier than when surrounded by nature and friends.

As a child, he worked at the Trapp Family Music Camp in Vermont and loved to ski and hike in the Green Mountains, White Mountains, Adirondacks, Rockies, and Alps. Jack took immense pleasure in his membership in the Hobbyists, a local men’s group of good friends with whom he hiked, studied, took trips, and discussed books and current affairs.

He was also an active in the American Legion, Post 53, and the Knights of Columbus, Council #1763.

He is survived by his wife Bobbie, his five children, Sean (Rosie) of Ridgewood, Kathleen Nilles (Michael) of Wellesley, Mass., Dennis (Theresa) of Wynnewood, Pa., Betsy Toomey (Tim) of Cohasset, Mass., and Matthew (Amy), of Old Greenwich, Conn. Jack’s dear daughter Ann died from Cystic Fibrosis in 1978.

In addition, Jack has 17 much-loved grandchildren: John, Madeline, Cormac, Seamus and Clare McCooe; Anna, Caitlin, Megan, and John Nilles; Charlie McCooe; Annie, Erin, and Catherine Toomey; Mary Grace, Finn, Kate, and Maggie McCooe. Jack is also survived by his brother Bill and wife Naomi; in-laws Jim and Jackie Hickey, Cormac McCarthy, Eileen McCarthy, Maryellen Jaques, and Dennis and Judy McCarthy; and numerous nieces and nephews.

All who knew Jack will miss his presence, but take solace from having been loved by him so well.

Visitation will take place on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Feeney Funeral Home, 232 Franklin Ave., in Ridgewood. Family and friends are also invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Ridgewood. A private burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to: CF Care, c/o Dr. Gwen Engelhard, 55 East End Avenue, Suite 14D, New York, New York 10028. CF Care supports Cystic Fibrosis patients in the New York metropolitan area.