The late John J Woods Jr The Irish and Irish-American communities of New York City and Long Island bid farewell to a beloved friend and great Clareman following the passing of John J Woods Jr, on Wednesday June 18, 2003. John succumbed to cancer after a brave fight over the previous months and is survived by his wife Patricia, his daughter Patricia Ann and two young grandchildren, Sean and Ciara. He was laid to rest in the cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury on June 20, after a concelebrated Mass in the Church of the Holy Spirit in New Hyde Park. The outpouring of love and affection by the large crowds at the wake and funeral mass were testament to the high esteem that John was held in. The membership of the County Clare Association of New York, alone with their chaplain, Fr John Malone, gathered as a group to pay their respects to one of their dearest members. They also stood as a guard of honour at the funeral mass. The association displayed its current banner at the funeral mass and had decided to retire this banner in John's memory. John was born in the Bronx on November 4, 1943, and spent most of his early years there within walking distance of Gaelic Park. He later moved to Long Island and spent the last 28 years in New Hyde Park. His father, John Sr hailed from Killanena and his mother was from Sligo and he bore that name proudly. Weekly Sunday visits were undertaken with his father to Gaelic Park, where he learnt of Irish games and culture and these were to become a constant in his life. Together with people like his good friend the late Paddy Markham, John was a driving force behind Clare hurling club in New York for many years. He set up his own football club in New Hyde Park in the late seventies. In the recent times, he was instrumental in the Irish Centre in Mineola. He was a member of the Clare Association for nearly thirty years and held nearly every position in the organisation. He was its first Irish American President in 1977 and 1978. In more recent years, he was the principal driving force behind the journal distributed at the annual ball. Were it not for John, this fundraising event each years would not have been as successful as it was. There are few Clare hurling supporters on either side of the Atlantic that were more knowledgeable or more passionate about the county's hurling than John. He arranged for the Irish games live during the championship and organised a phone link to receive the league games. His summer trips to Ireland were times to get in as many games as possible and he was there in 1995 and '97 to see the long wait end when Clare triumphed in the All-Ireland finals. His number plate Clare '95 proudly remembers what a joy that day was. Current Clare Association President Catherine T Hogan, vice-president PJ O'Loughlin, former presidents John Cusack and PJ Harvey, hurling great Jim Carney, businessman Danny Moloney and Clare chaplain Fr Malone were some of the many who paid tribute to John. Most people spoke to the family man and great friend that had contributed so much and had such a genuine passion for heritage. PJ Harvey announced that the Clare Golf Outing Benefit Fund would be presenting its first Sports Award this year to Jim Carney; and this annual honour will be known from this point on as the John Woods Memorial Sports Award. John's courage remained to the end. Despite being quite weak from his treatment and medication, this past St Patrick's Day determined as ever, he completed his parade up Fifth Avenue in front of the Clare Banner. Few like John have ever passed our way and what a privilege it was to know him. May he rest in peace. Courtesy of the Clare Champion July 2003 Tweet

Most Read Stories