Obituary of John P. McDonnell

John died peacefully on January 23, 2019. John was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1934. He graduated with an Electrical Engineering Degree in 1959 and an LL.B from New York University School of Law in 1963.
John served on active duty in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955. On his separation from active duty in 1953, John was awarded a letter of commendation for "his outstanding ability and excellent attitude in performing his duties."

Immediately after his discharge in 1955, John joined Bell Telephone Laboratories and over the years received a series of promotions. In 1989, he was promoted and given the dual responsibilities of Vice President and General Counsel of Bell Laboratory and Vice President Law of AT&T.

John retired from AT&T in 1996 and for the next twelve year threw himself into pro bono work with the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) and Legal Services Program of New Jersey attorney program. In 2001, on behalf of the Legal Services Program, the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court presented John with an Equal Justice medal for making a "tremendous impact" on the program's ability to secure equal justice for the disadvantaged.
John is predeceased by his wife, Evelyn. John is survived by his sister, Joanne (John) Concannon and her family.

The visitation for John will be held at Marine Park Funeral Home on Friday January 25, 2019 from 2:00 - 5:00 PM & 7:00 - 9:00 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church on Saturday Janurary 26, 2019 at 9:30 AM. The address for the church is 306 Morris Avenue Summit, New Jersey, 07901. The Committal Service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery immediately following the Funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Alzheimer's Association.