Patrick McCann

Patrick McCann was born on August 19, 1954, in Jersey City, New Jersey, during the post-World War II Baby Boom era. The weather records for that Thursday document a thunderstorm with light rain occurring in Jersey City on the date of his birth, a meteorological detail that situates his arrival within specific historical circumstances. Patrick became a lifelong resident of Menlo Park Terrace, an unincorporated community in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, with a population of 2,806 as of the 2020 U.S. Census.

He was born into a family with four children, including three siblings who survived to adulthood: sisters Sharon Bennett and Colleen Lynch, and brother Thomas McCann. His parents, Thomas and Jean McCann, provided the foundational family structure within this middle-class New Jersey community.

Patrick received his secondary education at St. Peter the Apostle High School in New Brunswick, New Jersey, a Roman Catholic institution operated under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. He graduated with the Class of 1972, and the school's yearbook collection from this period contains 146 images documenting 1,858 students across various class years. His Catholic education provided religious formation and academic preparation that would characterize his lifelong values.

Upon graduation in 1972, Patrick immediately entered the industrial workforce as a machinist, beginning what would become a remarkable 47-year career with Heindrichs Machine Products in Kenilworth, New Jersey. The company, also known as Heinrich Company, specializes in building unique workholding and metalworking tools. Patrick's nearly five-decade tenure at a single employer represented a form of occupational stability characteristic of mid-to-late twentieth-century industrial employment, spanning from 1972 through approximately 2019.

Patrick married Kathleen Andrea McCann, with whom he established a loving family and shared a substantial portion of his adult life. Kathleen was born approximately in 1957 or 1958 and passed away peacefully in February 2024 at the age of 66. The couple resided together in Menlo Park Terrace, where they raised their two children.

Their son, Patrick McCann Jr., was born on September 14, 1980, in Edison, New Jersey. The younger Patrick attended Edison High School, graduating with the Class of 1998, and was described as an avid fan of the New York Yankees. Tragically, Patrick Jr. passed away on December 28, 2014, at the age of 34, at his home in Menlo Park Terrace. His death represented a significant family tragedy that Patrick would carry through his later working years and into retirement.

Their daughter, Colleen McCann, married David Neumann and relocated to Boulder, Colorado. David W. Neumann serves as a Senior Professional Research Assistant and lead water resources engineer at the Center for Advanced Decision Support for Water and Environmental Systems (CADSWES) at the University of Colorado Boulder. The Neumann family established their residence in Boulder, creating a continental distance between Patrick and his daughter, though family bonds remained strong.

Patrick and Kathleen were blessed with five grandchildren: Rylan and Cooper Neumann through their daughter Colleen, and Jaxon McCann, Korey, and Hallianna Soden through their son Patrick Jr. and daughter-in-law Stephanie. Rylan Neumann participated in swimming athletics at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado.

Patrick's three siblings established residences across multiple states. His sister Sharon married Brian T. Bennett and moved to Lewes, Delaware. His sister Colleen Lynch remained in North Brunswick, New Jersey, while his brother Thomas McCann and wife Susan relocated to Florida.

Beyond his family and professional life, Patrick's most significant community involvement centered on his affiliation with the Sons of the American Legion Post #87 in Woodbridge, New Jersey. He served as 2nd Vice Commander and was a long-time member of this veterans' organization. The Sons of the American Legion is a national organization established to assist with programs and activities related to veterans and military service members. American Legion Post #87 is located at 314 Berry Street in Woodbridge and operates as a registered nonprofit organization. Patrick's elevation to leadership within the organization demonstrated his commitment to serving the veterans community and supporting military families.

Patrick's religious faith remained evident throughout his life, from his Catholic secondary education to his choice of burial at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia, New Jersey. St. Gertrude Cemetery is described as "a faith-centered Catholic cemetery serving families in Colonia and throughout Middlesex County and Central New Jersey".

Following his retirement after nearly five decades of machinist work, Patrick experienced the profound loss of his wife Kathleen in February 2024. He survived as a widower for approximately two years before his own passing. At the time of his death, Patrick shared his home with three faithful feline companions: "Sabrina," "Baby," and "Chevy".

Patrick McCann passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, April 4, 2026, at his home in Menlo Park Terrace at the age of 71. His peaceful death at home reflected his preference to remain in familiar surroundings during his final days. The visitation was held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Flynn and Son/Mitruska Funeral Home in Fords, New Jersey, followed by a funeral service and interment at St. Gertrude Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial contributions be made to Woodbridge American Legion Post #87, reflecting Patrick's lifelong commitment to the veterans' community.