John Bruce McGuigan

John Bruce McGuigan, a loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away on September 21, 2018 after a lifelong illness. He was 70.

Bruce, as he was known to family and friends, was born in Norristown to Charles and Anna (Holmes). He attended Norristown schools graduating from Norristown High School in 1964 where he met the love of his life, Veronica (Washinko), during 10th grade while playing saxophone in the marching band.

After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving as a communications specialist while stationed in Okinawa Japan. Upon the conclusion of his service to his country, he married Veronica, and started to raise their two sons, John (Lisa Lindenau) and Christopher (Colleen Hughes), in the West end of Norristown. They would live there until 1996 when they moved to East Norriton.

As a new father and husband, Bruce worked two jobs at Alan Wood Steel with his father and brother, and at Sears Department Store, both while attending Villanova University. His affection for Villanova basketball would later lead to him working on the effort to restore the football program to the university. He delighted in the basketball championships and that both his sons would also obtain graduate degrees from Villanova. Bruce would work constantly through all his struggles, notably for Combustion Engineering, Kyrlon Paints, Laidlaw, J.P. Mascaro and Romano School Bus in Industrial Relations/Human Resources and then DecisionOne as a sales person.

Bruce was an active member of the East Norriton Lions Club serving as a president multiple times. He received the Melvin Jones Fellowship award for his dedicated humanitarian service. As a member of Holy Saviour Church, Bruce was the caretaker of the Saturday evening service when it began in the late 1980’s and eventually became an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister in 1991.

It was only after a home accident in 2002 when it was discovered he suffered from inoperable growths in his brain which caused a slow erosion of memory and reasoning. Even though several surgeries attempted to bypass the growths, the decades of damage had taken their toll. The best doctors in the world were amazed at how he was able to function with such damage, a testament to his determination, intelligence and strength.

Bruce did enjoy the births of five grandchildren, trips to Disney with them and a trip to Italy with Veronica, Christopher, and family friends. One of the last true gentlemen, he had great joy in taking care of his grandchildren and seeing them succeed.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother (Charles) and survived by his wife, sons, and five grandchildren (Katie, Julia, Sean, Liam, and Quinn).

The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, September 25th from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM and Wednesday, September 26th from 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM at Holy Savior Church, 407 East Main Street, Norristown, PA, 19401. Funeral Mass will follow on Wednesday at 10:00 AM with entombment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, 2400 DeKalb Pike, E. N Norriton, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1400 Blackhorse Hill Rd, Coatesville, PA 19320.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Caramenico Funeral Home, Inc. 610275-7777