John J. (Jack) Walsh, 86, of Rosendale
ROSENDALE » John J. (Jack) Walsh, 86, of Rosendale, N.Y., passed from this world to the next on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, surrounded by his family and close friends.
He was born Nov. 22, 1931, in Saint Albans, Queens, to the late Thomas Walsh and Ellen Muldowney Walsh.
He is survived by his brother, Joe Walsh; and was preceded in death by his brothers, Bobby, Tommy, Billy, Frank, and his only sister, Mary. He is also survived by the love of his life and his wife of 63 years, Luisa Walsh; his children, John and wife Jean of Rosendale, Patrick and wife Penny of Rosendale, Tito and wife Carolyn of Stone Ridge, William of Taiwan, Joseph of Rifton, Patricia of Bloomington, Robert of California, and Ken and wife Kim of Rosendale, in addition to his 20 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
For most of his life, Jack was a self-employed and self-taught sign painter before working at Stewart Airport, where he worked until his retirement. After his retirement, he went to Puerto Rico, where his wife was born and where they first met. While in Puerto Rico, Jack became wellknown and respected for his carvings. Jack won more wood carving competitions in 10 years than anyone ever, before or since. He is the first nonPuerto Rican to have his work displayed in the welcome center of the Puerto Rican Board of Tourism when you first enter the country. His work is displayed in many churches and in numerous businesses and are sought after by many collectors and other artists. Even today, the work of Jack “El Gringo” Walsh is displayed all over the country he called his second home.
Jack served his country in the U.S. Army; he was a commissioner for the Rosendale Water District and a volunteer fireman with the Rosendale Fire Department. He was also an active member of St. Peter’s Church in Rosendale for many years.
Jack was a man defined by not what he did, but by who he was. He was a man who cared for his wife for 20 years after she became ill. He was a man who was proud of his Irish heritage as he was of his eight children and numerous grandchildren. His long white beard and belly allowed him to take great pleasure filling in for Santa Claus at the Brookside School, UARC, and whenever needed in our community. He was honorable and did many jobs on a handshake, not a contract. He was loyal, maintaining some friendships for 60-plus years. He was hard-working, working from the time he was 8 to help support his family during the Depression to cutting his own grass and firewood until he was 85. He was honest with you if you wanted to hear it or not. He accomplished great things with little education. His house was open to all; some stayed overnight, some stayed for years. He was thick-headed, opinionated and stubborn, but that pales in comparison to his generosity, warmth, sense of humor, character and his efforts to be a friend to all. His larger-than-life personality will be missed by all who knew him. He did not leave a reputation — he left a legacy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, 2018 at St. Peter’s Church in Rosendale. The Rev. Edmund Burke will officiate. Visitation for family and friends will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, at George J. Moylan Funeral Home Inc., 2053 Route 32, Rosendale.
The family suggests memorial donations to the Rosendale Fire Dept., a local veterans group, the Ancient Order of Hibernians or to Rifton Equipment at the Woodcrest Bruderhof. (www.GJMoylanFuneralHome.com)