John McDonald

Obituary of John E. McDonald

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John E." Jack" McDonald passed away Sunday August 2, 2015 in The Woodlands, Texas. Born in Newark, New Jersey to John and Helen McDonald, Jack was preceded in death by his father at a young age and was raised by his devoted mother, Helen. Jack was married for 51 years to Geraldine K. McDonald who passed in 2013. He was the older brother and is survived by Robert McDonald as well as his five children: John, Brian, Chris, Carolyn, Jamie and twelve grandchildren. Jack was a four year letterman in both baseball and basketball at St. Michael's High School in Newark and graduated from Seton Hall University with both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. A career oilman, he blazed the trail for trade with Mexican state oil company, Pemex, executing the first ever contract with them by a U.S. company. He loved reading the newspaper and was a passionate golfer, who lived by the motto, "drive for show…putt for dough", the former being the more important. He had two interests greater than the links, the first being ballroom dancing, particularly Latin dancing, where he was known as "El Gringo Magnifico". The other, was a lifelong obsession with Alexander Graham Bell's invention known as the telephone. His phone calls will be dearly missed. Visitation and Rosary for family and friends will be held at 8:00 p.m., Friday August 14, 2015 at Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 26777 Glen Loch Dr., in The Woodlands. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m., Saturday August 15, 2015 at Sts. Simon and Jude with a reception immediately following the Mass. The Rite of Committal will take place at Forest Park The Woodlands Cemetery at a later date.