Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
John Joseph Sheehan
John Joseph Sheehan was born in Chester County Pennsylvania to Cornelius and Anna Rosalie Sheehan.
He was an adventurous soul who couldn’t wait to see the world. He joined the army and served as a clerk for the Nuremberg Trials.
He married Audrey Inez March, also from Downingtown, at the Presidio in San Francisco. He then took a troop ship to England, and while passing the coast of Costa Rica, mused to a companion that he would like to go there one day. He and Inez had seven children; Karen Mary, Timothy Donal, Theresa Ann, Margaret Jean, Kathleen Elizabeth, Christopher Chandler and John Matthew Sheehan.
John had a long career in the Army and served in England, Germany, Korea and Vietnam. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After Vietnam he returned to school and completed a Master’s Degree of Public Health from Johns Hopkins, with a certification in drug and alcohol counseling. He went on to design and establish treatment programs and counselor training programs in New York, Florida, Texas and Costa Rica. He moved to Costa Rica in 1995 and restored a 17 hectare property that had been cleared for cattle grazing. This farm, Finca La Colina, was a sanctuary for him and his brother James and James’ wife Shirley. He took great pleasure in watching his trees grow and enjoyed an esteemed position in his community there.
He is survived by his brothers James and his wife Shirley and Thomas and his wife Suzy Sheehan. He has two granddaughters, Chandler Homer and Kamryn Walker. He has two step granddaughters, Carrie Quach and Eve Freeland. He has two great grand sons and one step grandson, Walker Homer, Carson Homer, and Christian Homer. He has 24 nieces and nephews and many great ones too.
A celebration of John’s life is being planned for Saturday September 1 from 112 at the Thorndale Inn in Downingtown. Friends and family are invited to gather and mingle from 11-2, a buffet lunch will be served and prepared remarks after lunch.
He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.