CHERRY VALLEY-John F. McKenna, Ph.D., 84, of Cherry Valley, died Tuesday, August 28th in the St. Francis Home after a lengthy illness. He leaves his wife of 49 years, Claire E. (Lynch) McKenna; 2 sons, Francis G. McKenna and his wife Mary Ellen of Northborough and James McKenna and his wife Katie May of Millbury; 3 daughters, Theresa Chesnut and her husband David of Poway, CA, Mary Claire Poindexter and her husband Lt. Col. Scott Poindexter of Annapolis, MD and Loretta Dion and her husband Michael of Ranson, WV; a brother, Richard McKenna and his wife Lucia of Carrollton, TX; 2 sisters, Frances Domowicz of Edison, NJ and Madeline Abath and her husband Walter of Wilmington, DE; and 14 grandchildren, Lena and James Chesnut, Kathryn, Henry, Mark and Michelle McKenna, Kevin, Sean and Aidan McKenna, Catherine, Christian and Matthew Poindexter and Timothy and Andrew Dion. He was predeceased by his sister, Margaret Lyons and his grandson, Ryan Patrick McKenna.
He was born in the Bronx, NY, the son of Bartholomew and Susan (McKeon) McKenna. Dr. McKenna received his undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees from Fordham University. He was an Assistant Professor of Modern Language at the University of Scranton for 10 years and spent a year at the University of Paris on a Fullbright Scholarship. He was a Professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the College of the Holy Cross for 28 years and was awarded the status of Professor Emeritus upon retirement. John was a WWII U.S. Army veteran serving in the European theater as an Infantry Platoon Commander in the 354th Infantry Regiment, 89th Infantry Division and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, American Campaign Medial, Army of Occupation Medal and Bronze Star. He later received a direct commission as a Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve Intelligence Program and affiliated initially with the Intelligence Unit in Scranton, PA. John was assigned to the Naval Reserve Intelligence in Worcester where his assignments included a tour as Executive Officer and as Officer in Charge. Later, he served as an Intelligence Production Project Officer. John continued his attaché activities as a French and Russian translator for the Translation Section at Naval Intelligence Command until his retirement at the rank of Commander in Ceremonies held on board the U.S.S. Constitution in Boston.
The funeral is Friday, August 31st from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, Worcester with a Mass at 10:00 AM in St. Pius X Church, 1154 Main Street. Burial with full military honors will be in the Massachusetts Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street Winchendon at 1:00 PM, Friday. Calling hours are Thursday, August 30th from 5:00 until 8:00 PM in the funeral home.