Obituary of John Roarty

On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, John Roarty, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at the age of 92. John was born in Dunlewey, County Donegal. He cherished his Irish heritage and was a fluent speaker of Gaelic. In 1956, after spending many years working in the mines of Scotland, John immigrated to New York where he settled in Brooklyn and married the lovely Brigid Gallagher. The couple were married for 66 years and raised a family of four children: Maureen, Kathleen, Sean, and Peter. In 1968, John moved his family to Long Island, and for 55 years was an avid parishioner at St. Joseph’s Church in Hewlett. John was an active member of the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens. He spent many years covering the door for society events and was always readily available to assist with projects at the center. John was also an enthusiastic member of the Traditional Irish Musician’s Club in the late 1960s, and then a founding member of the Mulligan Quinn Comhaltas Branch. He held the position of treasurer and supported the Mid Atlantic Region for many years. John was deeply passionate about Gaelic football and would attend games in both the states and in Ireland. One of his fondest memories was attending the All Ireland Championship where his beloved Donegal team won the Sam Maguire Cup. John worked enthusiastically and tirelessly throughout his entire life. After many years as a telephone installer with NY Bell, he started his own business installing and repairing phones across the tristate area. After retiring from his career in the telephone industry, John continued working in various capacities; in fact, he was engaged in multiple projects this past summer. John actively lived each and every day to the fullest in the company of his beloved family and closest friends. John was a true gentleman who graced our lives with his friendship, loyalty, and love