Obituary of John F Monahan

Obituary John F. “Jack” Monahan, 72, of Tucson, AZ, died of lung cancer on May 17, 2018, at Peppi’s House hospice center in Tucson. Born August 15, 1945 in Gary, Indiana, he attended Holy Angels Cathedral School and Horace Mann High School (class of ’63), served as a machinist in the U.S. Navy, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana University. After a career in accounting at Arthur Andersen and other organizations, he attended DePaul University for an additional bachelor’s degree in education and then the University of Chicago for a math education master’s degree. He went on to teach middle-school math and science in the Chicago Public Schools and later in Vail, AZ. A skilled, self-taught remodeler and mechanic, he re-habbed several homes over the years but was most proud of his restored Lancia sports car and his rebuilt and restored 1965 Chevy Malibu convertible. He crewed frequently on sailboats racing from Chicago to Mackinac Island, and was an active member of the Columbia Yacht Club as well as the Point Judith Yacht Club in Rhode Island. He was also a regular participant in the Classic Chevy Club of Tucson, showing his car and editing the club newsletter. Volunteering was very important to him and he gave time and energy to many organizations, including the following: Arizona: Osiris-Rex Ambassador Honored with a minor planet being named after him for his commitment to the program; planet’s name is “75842 Jackmonahan” (see 75842 in link below) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meanings_of_minor_planet_names:_75001–76000 390th Memorial Museum Foundation volunteer TROT (Therapeutic Riding of Tucson) volunteer Pima County Parks and Recreation nature volunteer Illinois: Big Brothers Big Sisters Special Olympics Jack was preceded in death by his parents, David Dempsey Monahan and Margaret Wilson Monahan. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Patricia “Pat” McDonald Monahan and their golden retriever, Ceili; two brothers, David Wilson Monahan and William Dempsey Monahan; and two sisters, Peggy Frick and Terry Monahan; nieces and nephews Kathy Monahan, John Monahan, Bob Monahan, David Monahan, and Max Monahan Plenke; and 5 grand-nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on June 18, 2018 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Marana, AZ. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jack’s name to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Steady Strides Riding Center, a non-profit therapeutic riding center in Tucson at 8987 E. Tanque Verde, Ste 309-389, Tucson, AZ 85749, or Special Olympics. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John F Monahan, please visit our floral store.