John E. Brady

John E. (Jack/Brad) Brady passed from this life to eternal glory from his home in Oak Valley on January 30, 2013. Jack was born in South Philadelphia to the late Arthur and Mary Brady on December 14, 1934. He is survived by his wife, Patricia (Pat) Jane (nee Malloy), and his children: Dr. Kevin T. Brady, (Stephanie); Patricia Geralyn (Patti-Lyn) Graham, (Steve); Erin Marie McDonald, (Francis); John E. (Jack) Brady, (Laureen). He had nine grandchildren Megan Patricia Graham, Stephan Richard Graham, Caitrona Mr Brady, Ciara Gael Brady, Jenna Kathlynn Brady, Francis John McDonald, John Edward Brady, Ryan Patrick McDonald, and Julianna Ashlynn Brady. Jack was also survived by his sister, Maureen McCay and his brother, Michael Joseph (Mickey) Brady, three aunts, and his in-laws, Frank and Jule Mullin, Ron Giffin and Agnes Malloy, along with nine nieces, eight nephews, many grand nieces and nephews along with great-grand nieces and great grand nephews and many cousins.

As a youngster, Jack was a member of St. Richard's Parish in South Philadelphia, where he attended school until the eighth grade. His Uncle Jack Hayes had inspired him to become an avid Boston Red Sox fan. Jack Hayes was a fan of the Philadelphia Athletics' World Series hero Jimmy Fox who was traded to the Boston Red Sox the year after Jack was born. From his Uncle Jack's love for the Red Sox, Jack began to follow the Sox at the time a young superstar began to make his mark on the sport. Jack's childhood hero was the "Splendid Splinter," Ted Williams. Williams' pictures can still be seen throughout his office. Equal to his love for the Red Sox, was his near fanatical devotion to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He followed the Irish from the Frank Leahy championships during the 1940s, through Parseghian, Devine and Holtz championship years. He had even studied recent high school recruits on the BCS Bowl team this year.

Jack also bled green for the Philadelphia Eagles. Every Sunday he could be found watching games alone or with others, hollering and cheering at players on the T.V. He played basketball throughout his youth and went to many Philadelphia Warriors and 76ers games over the years. He would often recount the fantastic play of local college and professional stars such as: Paul Arizin, Tom Gola, and Wilt Chamberlain, while giving listeners a complete recap of games that had taken place years earlier.

Jack went to Southeast Catholic High School in South Philadelphia and remained an active member of the Millay Alumni Club and Class of 52 reunion committee, where he helped raise money for Catholic education. He was drafted into the army in 1955 and served in Germany. Jack remembered that while recovering from a basketball injury, his friends had to mobilize and march toward the Hungarian border to face the Soviets, during the Hungarian revolution of 1956. Luckily, President Eisenhower did not send them across the border. While in Germany, Jack often wrote to Pat, the love of his life, and he planned to marry her once he returned to the States. Back in South Philly, he married his beautiful bride in St. Monica's Church on May 29th, 1958.

Out of high school, with a two year interruption in the army, Jack worked for Philadelphia Electric, (P.E.) now PECO. His father, Art, had worked at P.E. for years and was able to get him and a number of friends very good jobs. While at P.E. Jack attended night school at La Salle College (now University) for eight and half years. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Electronic Physics in 1965, and he gained employment with a corporation in the newer field of computer technology. Ironically, his father could not understand why he would leave the security of P.E. for some fly-by-night company called IBM.

As a systems engineer at IBM, Jack won numerous awards, bonuses, and merit prizes for his work with clients such as: South Jersey Gas, Chemical Lehman, Spenser Gifts, Tropicana, Resorts International, and Caesar's casinos in Atlantic City. While at IBM, Jack also served as an adjunct professor at Drexel University. After his retirement in 1992, Jack continued to serve as a computer education consultant and often taught classes in New York City, Washington, Dallas, Philadelphia and other cities for the following 11 years.

Jack was always very involved in his Oak Valley and St. Margaret's local communities. He coached basketball at St. Margaret's during the early 1960s and baseball and basketball for the Oak Valley AA during the 1970s. Although he loved basketball and baseball, he made his mark in the Oak Valley community as a football coach. He first served as an assistant on the 80lb Oak Valley Hawk teams in 1969 and 1970. After which, he became one of the principal founders of the extremely successful Oak Valley Vikings Football Association, an organization that had won 12 league championships over 12 years of existence over four weight-classes. He was the head coach of the 110lb team for one year and served 4 years as the 125 head coach, where won four division championships, three league championships, a South Jersey Bowl championship, and a New Jersey Boardwalk Bowl championship. After he won his "Hat trick in 76," Jack continued to serve the Vikings in various capacities. He assisted and served as a consultant for a 70lb. and an 85lb. championship teams. For all his work in the Oak Valley community, Jack was inducted into the Deptford Township Volunteer Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class.

After his years coaching, Jack served as Deptford Township Republican Committeeman. He and his wife, Pat, were finally able to travel to places such as: California, Florida, Tennessee, Branson, Hawaii, France and Ireland. Most summers, though, he would spend at his North Wildwood home with his wife and family, often seen relaxing on the 2nd Street beach. While at home in Oak Valley, Jack contributed much to his St. Margaret's parish and to the greater Catholic Church. He was a 30 years "Man of Malvern," at the St. Joseph's in the Hills Laymen's Catholic Retreat House. He was a founding member of the St. Margaret's' charismatic prayer group, where he praised and worshiped God at the weekly Monday night prayer meeting for 37 years. In addition, Jack served as a CCD teacher, a lector and a Eucharist minister at St Margaret's. He often spoke for the Diocese of Camden Tithing Programs in parishes around the Diocese, and he was awarded the Medal for Meritorious Service to the Church of Camden by Bishop George Gilfoyle. Jack was a very active member in the prolife movement, and was also a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus in Council 13259.

Jack will be remembered for his untiring service to his local and church community and for his genuine concern for others. Most of all, he will be remembered as a man who had dedicated his entire being to service of his Lord and Savior. He passed his faith on to his children and grandchildren, and he brought many of his sisters and brothers into closer and personal relationships with Jesus. We know that Jack is now enjoying the splendor of our Lord and is being fully rewarded as Christ's good and faithful servant.

Visitation Monday 7 to 9pm and Tuesday 9am until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 at the Infant Jesus Parish, St. Margaret's Church 3rd St. Woodbury Heights, NJ under the direction of DAVIS & WAGNER FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES Woodbury, NJ. Interment with Military Honors Gloucester County Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to 1st Way Life Center 686 N. Broad St. Woodbury, NJ 08096 or ARC Gloucester1555 Gateway Blvd. West Deptford, NJ 08096. Memories and condolences shared at daviswagner.com

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