Obituary of John P. Walsh

Loudonville, NY John P. Walsh passed away on July 18, 2022 at home after a brief illness. Formerly of Olean and Allegany, he relocated to Loudonville several years ago. He was born on October 5, 1929 to Celia M. Phillips Walsh and John J. Walsh. He attended St. Bonaventure Parochial School and Allegany High School. He served in the US Navy from 1947 to 1951 as a signalman in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets. Following his service, he received a BA from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and an MA from St. Bonaventure University. For three years, he was a college bookman for J.B. Lippincott publishing company in the southeast where he met Jillian Becket, an English nurse working in Alabama. They were wed in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Birmingham, Alabama in 1960. He began his 30-year career as an English teacher at Ellicottville High School in 1961 and retired from Allegany Central School in 1991. He was a proud member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Cattaraugus County, Division 2, where he served as Recording Secretary, Historian and Sick and Bereavement Committee Chairman. He was chairman of the organization’s Irish Famine Memorial Committee and instrumental in the building of the famine monument erected in War Veterans Park in Olean. He was also a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Olean. John had a great love of History, particularly Irish History and the Irish famine that brought great numbers of Irish to the US. He enjoyed attending Scottish Festivals and Games throughout the Eastern seaboard with his wife. For a time, he organized Scottish piping lessons at his AOH Division. He inherited a love of Opera from his father as well as his love of baseball and his Yankees. He is survived by three children, Margaret (Richard) Eckhardt, Bridget (Rick Paluck) Walsh, and Matthew Walsh; 2 sisters Sally (John) Vanini of Olean and Cameron (John) Donoghue of Weeki Wachee, FL and 3 grandchildren, Janet, Gregory and Elizabeth Eckhardt. He was predeceased by Jillian, a son, John T. Walsh, a brother, Rev. Thomas Walsh, a sister Barbara Walsh, and twin sisters, Maureen and Kathleen Walsh. Visitation will be from 5-7pm on Thursday at The Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Americas (on the corner of North Lake and Central Avenue), Albany. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am on Friday (July 22, 2022) at The Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Americas, 273 Central Avenue, Albany. Friends are welcome to attend a graveside service Monday (July 25, 2022) at 10am at St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Section 8. Fr. James Vacco, OFM, will officiate. Donations can be made to: Ancient Order of Hibernians, Cattaraugus County, Division 2, PO Box 37, Olean, NY 14760, Allegany Area Historical Association, PO Box 162, Allegany, NY, 14706, or the Richburg Wirt Historical Society, 243 Main St, Richburg, NY, 14774. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean. Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.