John Robert McCloskey

Our beloved husband, father, brother, and grandfather John Robert McCloskey died peacefully at his home on December 15, 2019. He was 75 years old. Known by all as Jack, he was born on February 1, 1944, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The oldest child of Don and Helen McCloskey, Jack and his siblings Kate, Todd, Paul, and Anne grew up primarily in Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Wheaton, Maryland, and Falls Church, Virginia. In the mid-1950s, while his father worked for the US government abroad, the family spent three memorable years of Jack’s childhood in Beirut, Lebanon, and traveled through Western Europe before returning to the States. He graduated from O’Connell High School in Falls Church and attended Virginia Tech where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, graduating in 1967. He worked as an engineer for forty years, first at Pratt and Whitney and then BDM (later bought by TRW and eventually Northrop Grumman). A highlight of his career was playing a critical role on the Airborne Laser Lab, among many other projects.

Jack moved to Albuquerque in 1975, first for a one year temporary duty assignment, during which he fell in love with the blue skies, bright sun, and laid-back culture of the southwest.

Jack met the love of his life, Carolyn, in 1986. They were married on June 17, 1989, and enjoyed a loving, active, wonderful marriage. They lived in Albuquerque and went out often, especially dancing and to the movies. They have been big Lobo fans for over twenty years. They also traveled the world, including Europe, Australia, Asia, Central America, Canada, and all over the United States. They visited Carolyn’s daughter Genivive when she lived in Mexico and then China, and they visited his daughter Kelly when she lived in France and when she and her family lived in Spain.

Jack retired from Northrop Grumman in 2008 and was a math tutor at CNM for eight years. He was a lifelong student of the piano and enjoyed raising tropical fish. He was politically engaged and active all his life, volunteering for Democrats. He loved reading about history and was a big fan of Winston Churchill. He enjoyed sitting outdoors on the back porch. He was a doting grandfather, loving father, and devoted husband. He generously gave time, attention, and care to those he loved.

Jack is survived by his wife Carolyn and daughter Genivive Sandoval; his daughter Kelly McCloskey-Romero and husband Ricardo Romero and daughters Celeste, Felicia, and Gabriela; his son Dan McCloskey and wife Priscilla and children Keith and Helen; his sister Kate Davis and his brother-in-law Jim Davis, and their daughters Chrissy and Sara; his brother Todd and his children Emily and John, son-in-law Bayen, granddaughter Aida, and daughter-in-law Katie; his brother Paul McCloskey and girlfriend Barbara Sheehan; his sister Anne McCloskey and her sons Ben, Noah, and Will Sweet. He was loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.