Former Rockland Legislator Meehan Remembered

Jack Meehan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and humanitarian, passed away on September 5, following a brief illness. He was 84.

A lifelong Suffern resident, Jack was an idealist and a romantic who always put family first and maintained a steadfast commitment to serving the community that he loved throughout his life.

Born in 1941 during the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and later studying Political Science at Villanova (BA) and Brooklyn College (MS), Jack came to realize that the foundation of government could be found at the local level. As a Suffern Trustee, Deputy Mayor and member of the Rockland County Legislature, Jack understood that it was only through bipartisan cooperation and shared values that positive and lasting accomplishments could be realized. Jack was an FDR and Kennedy Democrat through and through, and yet some of the closest working relationships he fostered were with Republicans who shared his desire to put service to the community ahead of party politics.

Growing up in Suffern in the 1940s, Jack lost his father, Thomas, at an early age. His mother, Helen, a nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital, raised Jack, along with his three older siblings, to all become successful and happy adults. Jack was inspired by his family members, including the humor of his brother Tom, who became a Tony-award winning Broadway playwright; the public service of his brother Bob, who served as District Attorney of Rockland County; and the compassion of his sister Marilyn, who followed in his mother’s footsteps to become a nurse.

As a young man, Jack began his public service career in 1964 when he joined the 101st Signal Corps of the U.S. Army National Guard, serving for six years. In 1968, he served as Sgt. Of Arms for the NY Delegation at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In 1970, he began his first foray into public office, winning election as a Suffern Trustee on St. Patrick’s Day.

In 1972, Jack’s life changed dramatically when he lost a button on his shirt as he was heading out on a blind date. Arriving at the young lady’s apartment, he immediately asked her if she would be kind enough to sew the button back on. He then took her to see the film, Made For Each Other, and two months later, he proposed to her in a Hansom cab, driven by an Irish driver through Central Park. Jack and the former Carole Knaust were married for 53 years and enjoyed a love story that included children, grandchildren, extensive travel, and Jack serenading Carole with songs from musicals, including Camelot, My Fair Lady, South Pacific, and Oklahoma.

Among his many passions, Jack loved watching sports and got his start cheering for the Brooklyn Dodgers. When the Dodgers moved west, he became a rabid NY Mets fan, a fever he shared with his mother. It took a little while for his brothers to make the switch, but once they did, the Meehans and Mets went together like bacon and eggs. Jack also loved the Villanova Wildcats and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Jack passed on his love of his teams, particularly the Mets, to his children and grandchildren.

Jack and Carole welcomed a daughter, Molly, in 1975, and a son, Warren, in 1978. As Carole traveled to White Plains for her job as a social studies teacher, Jack was in charge of getting the children ready for school (he was an expert hair braider!) and was known as the go-to Dad for class field trips. Family time meant hiking, sledding, camping, boat trips, and searching for the perfect Christmas tree.

Laughter was a staple of the Meehan household, and Jack was filled with pride when his children began to display their own goofy, offbeat sense of humor. Molly and her Dad shared a love of amusement parks, particularly roller coasters. Warren was thrilled to have his father serve as his Little League coach. He described the happiest day of his young life as the day he hit his first over-the-fence home run. That night, his father joined him on a Boy Scout camping trip, and as the two of them sat in their tent together, Jack produced a package of Ho Hos to celebrate Warren’s achievement on the baseball field.

Jack was able to combine his love of sports and community service by assuming the mantle of Manager of the Suffern Babe Ruth League. He also became a much sought-after officiant for local basketball, football, baseball, and softball games throughout the region.

Elected to the Rockland County Legislature in 1973, Jack made a name for himself as a government representative always willing to reach across the political aisle to get things done. It was Jack’s tenacity as Chair of the Planning & Public Works Committee, and the close relationship he formed with Republican Legislator Eugene Grogan, that paved the way for the building of the new County Jail in 1988. Jack also played a leadership role in the creation of the Rockland County Office for the Aging, which led to the establishment of the County’s Meals on Wheels program, the Association for the Visually Impaired, and the Senior Nutrition Program.

After his many years serving in local government, Jack continued to give back to the community through extensive volunteer work. He donated countless hours to AARP Tax Aide, helping seniors prepare their tax returns, while offering friendship and a listening ear along the way. He also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and the Association for the Visually Impaired.

Jack was a real animal lover and, together with Carole, raised countless dogs and cats over the years, always naming them for inspirational leaders and sports heroes that he loved. Jack also adored the theater and everything about it, including the music, the dancing, and the costumes. During his Villanova days, he was proud to be cast in a featured role in a production of Inherit The Wind.

Becoming Gran Da to his four grandchildren, Eleanor (Ellie), Beatrix (Bebe), Finn, and Sawyer, was one of the great joys of Jack’s life. With the boys, he instilled a love of sports, and with the girls, he passed on a love of music, teaching them the song Hi Lili, Hi Lo, from the movie Lili. It was a song he had also taught to his nieces many years earlier and remains a family favorite.

Jack was exceedingly proud of his 100% Irish heritage, and a trip to Ireland with Carole in 2021 was a highlight of his golden years. The two loved to travel, both on land and by river cruise, and enjoyed trips to such places as Norway, Germany, Austria, Russia, and Alaska. But after Suffern, his favorite location was Maine. He cherished family trips to Moosehead Lake and it became a tradition for 35 years.

Jack is survived by his wife, Carole; his daughter, Molly, along with Molly’s husband, Evan, and their daughters Eleanor and Beatrix; his son, Warren, along with Warren’s wife Karen and their sons Finn and Sawyer; his brother-in-law Peter Knaust, and many loving nieces and nephews, as well as great and great-great nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Helen Meehan, his brothers, Tom and Bob Meehan, his sister, Marilyn Meehan Marino, and his goddaughter, Laura Meehan Rutishauser.

A Celebration of Life for Jack will be planned and announced in the coming months. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Meals on Wheels (https://mowrockland.org/) and People to People (https://www.peopletopeopleinc.org/)

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