Obituary of John F. McMahon

John (“Jack”) Francis McMahon, noted Boston Labor Lawyer of Winthrop and more recently of Jamaica Plain, MA, died on November 7, 2024, at age 84.

Jack was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, son of John and Helen McMahon. He earned degrees from the College of the Holy Cross and Boston College Law School. As an attorney with Angoff, Goldman, Manning, Pyle, Wanger, and Hiatt, Jack spent his career representing workers and labor unions in New England, including arguing for the Boston Police and Firefighters Departments in front of the United States Supreme Court. He met his wife, Sheila McNicholas McMahon, in college. Together, they raised five children: Rachel Christopher of Revere, MA (Lawrence Christopher), Peter McMahon of Greenfield, MA, Deirdre McMahon of Bala Cynwyd, PA (Jason Mezey), David McMahon of Cambridge, MA (Leah Kramer), and Siobhan McMahon of Cambridge, MA (Philip Holland).

In addition to his career at the bar, Jack had a lifelong love of sports. He played hockey and speed skated with multiple groups in the Boston area. He also loved to run and to bike and continued to cycle, if in stationary fashion, until weeks before his death. He was fond of crossword puzzles, coffee, birdwatching, and the Tour de France. He was also an accomplished draftsman, and could sketch machinery with precision. He and Sheila, who died in 2020, delighted in their grandchildren: Brendan, Erinn, Norah, Paul, Danny, Sebastian, and Rosie. Jack leaves behind his children and grandchildren, as well as his brothers, Richard and Jimmy, both of Worcester, MA. His brothers Christopher and Michael as well as his wife predeceased him. Services will be private. Jack’s family would like to thank the care team at Springhouse Senior Living in Jamaica Plain, especially Jessie, and the wonderful staff at Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln, MA. Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.