Fr. John McMahon, O.P. - Obituary

ather John A. McMahon, O.P. Father John A. McMahon, O.P. died on September 9, 2011 at St. Dominic Priory in Washington, D.C. after a short illness. Fr. McMahon was born in Waterbury, CT, on May 5, 1936, he was the son of John F. and Mary (nee Phelan) McMahon. He is preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mary McMahon and Debra Harnett. He is survived by his sister, Phyllis Sullivan, as well as three nieces, Sister Veronica Mary Sullivan, S.V., Eileen Sullivan and Moira Shapland and three nephews, John, James and Dennis Sullivan. Fr. was a graduate of St. Francis Xavier Grammar School and Sacred Heart High School, Waterbury, CT and a 1960 alumnus of Providence College. Fr. McMahon studied for the priesthood at St. Stephen's Priory in Dover, MA, received his bachelor's degree in sacred theology in 1966 from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1968. He obtained a master's degree in philosophy of education from Catholic University of America in 1970. From 1970 to 72 Fr. McMahon concurrently taught religious studies and Latin at Bishop Rosecrans High School, Zanesville, Ohio; was Parochial Assistant Pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Zanesville; served as Catholic Chaplain at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio; and served as Instructor of Ethics at Good Samaritan School of Nursing in Zanesville. He also served as director of the Zanesville CCD program and director of adult education at St. Thomas. He joined the PC faculty in 1972 as an instructor in the Education Department. From 1973 to 1988, he served as assistant vice president for student services and director of Slavin Center. He also directed the Freshman Orientation Program at PC from 1974 to 1988. From 1976 to 1979, Fr. McMahon served as director of security at the college, establishing the present gatehouse security system, and replacing outside security guards with PC's own security personnel system. In June 1988, Fr. McMahon was appointed chairman of a task force responsible for establishing a Pre-Novitiate Program at PC for men accepted into the novitiate to begin studies for the priesthood in the Province of St. Joseph. In January 1989, he was appointed sub-prior of the PC Dominican Community, which is comprised of approximately 60 Dominican priests and brothers in residence at the college. In addition to his administrative duties, Fr. McMahon also served as chaplain and financial secretary to the Friar Council of the Knights of Columbus, and as chaplain to the St. Catherine of Siena Circle, Daughters of Isabella, both organizations which he founded at PC. He also served on a number of committees. From July 1990 to January 1993, Rev. John A. McMahon, O.P., was religious superior of the Dominican community and pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Zanesville, he was then briefly appointed Parochial Assistant to St. Gertrude in Madeira, OH from March to August 1993. In August 1993 he began his last appointment as the Director for the Center for Assisted Living at St. Dominic Priory in Washington, DC where he served until his death. Funeral arrangements: Reception of the Body at St. Dominic Church, 6th & E Street, SW on Tuesday evening, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. followed by Office of the Dead. The Wake follows until 9:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning, September 14 at St. Dominic Church. Burial will be at the Dominican Cemetery, Providence, RI. Contributions may be made in Father McMahon's memory to the Dominican Center for Assisted Living, at St. Dominic Priory, 630 E Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20024 where Fr. McMahon was the director.