LT John M. Prendergast, USNR (13 Oct 1939 - 27 Apr 2025)

(Sourced from Legacy.com and Campbellfuneral.com)
It is with a heavy heart that the family of John Morgan Prendergast announces his passing, which occurred on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, 2025, at eleven that morning. John entered this world on Friday, October 13, 1939, at the tender weight of under four pounds. His survival was feared. But he survived in an exceptional manner. Son of the late Edmund and Catherine (Morgan) Prendergast, John was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx where he graduated from High School. He served his country honorably from 1965 to 1969 in the US Navy, where he was a pilot and pilot training officer, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.

John served aboard the USS Forrestal (CV 59) as a co-pilot assigned to VAW-123, supporting combat operations in Vietnam. On July 29, 1967, an accidental rocket discharge caused a large fire and cascading explosions, seriously damaging the vessel and taking the lives of 134 service members. John was lucky to survive, as a copilot in an E-2A on the catapult preparing to launch when the fire began - the intensity of the tragedy impacted him deeply.

John met and began dating Joan Pileski while still serving his country. They wed on July 17, 1971, and began their life together in New York. After an honorable discharge, John attended and graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. John and Joan later moved to Virginia, where John worked for various construction companies, including Turner Construction, Clarke Construction and many others. He built a home for his family in Sterling, Virginia. A prolific creator, John was not satisfied with just construction; he also built and flew an experimental aircraft as well as a Cessna. He was a proud member of the Experimental Aircraft Association.

John is survived by: His wife Joan of Sterling, VA; his son James Prendergast of Philadelphia, PA; his daughter Carol (Prendergast) McMahon and her husband Paul of S. Hamilton, MA; his son Michael Prendergast and his wife Shannon of VA; his grandchildren Justin and Dylan Prendergast; his sisters Virginia Prendergast and Barbara Kiernan; and a large extended family of nieces, nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his siblings Mary and Teddy Prendergast.

His graveside funeral service was held at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Ave. Bourne, MA 02532 on Friday May 9, 2025.  Contributions may be made to the Experimental Aircraft Association, c/o EAA Aviation Center, 3000 Poberezny Rd., Oshkosh, WI, 54903. ​

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