John F McGonagle

Yarmouth and Saco - John F. McGonagle, 80, passed away on Monday, April 9, 2018 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House with his family by his side listening to the Irish Tenors. Born in Portland on June 27, 1937 to the late Daniel and Dorothy (Fowler) McGonagle. He grew up on Munjoy Hill and other neighborhoods in Portland and attended local schools. He spent many summers living on Highland Lake in the family's cottage and graduated from Portland High School, Class of 1955. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served as an inflight fueling specialist with the 92nd Air Refueling Squadron. During his time in the Air Force, he was stationed in Texas and Washington State and was honorably discharged in 1963. Shortly after his discharge, John graduated from University of Maine at Orono in 1963 and attended graduate school at Clark University in Worcester. In Worcester, he met his wife Penny Banks and they were married on June 14, 1969. Together, they raised their family in Stratham, NH for 14 years before moving back to Maine, where he and his family lived in Saco for many years before recently moving to Yarmouth. Throughout his career, John worked in many capacities in sales in the insurance industry and retired in 1992. In retirement, he held many jobs, but spent many hours in his gardens. He also enjoyed gourmet cooking, fine wine, and conversing on many subjects- He was a true renaissance man. Above all else, John was a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather. He will be deeply missed. In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his brother, Frederick McGonagle; sister's-in-law, Catherine McGonagle and Peggy McGonagle. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Penny McGonagle of Yarmouth; brothers, Daniel McGonagle of South Portland and William McGonagle and wife Janet of South Portland; children, Timothy McGonagle and wife Bridget of Yarmouth and Marybeth Sullivan and husband Michael of Portland; grandchildren, John, Mollie, Sadie, Emma and Jack; and many extend family members and friends. Visiting Hours celebrating John's life will be held on Friday, April 13, 2018 from 8:30AM-9:30AM at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10AM at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland. Interment with Military Honors will be held at Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in John's honor to the McGonagle Family Scholarship at the University of Maine via umainefoundation.org/memorial or checks may be made payable to University of Maine Foundation and mailed to University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792 or to Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Route 1, Suite 1, Scarborough, ME 04074