Obituary of John Anthony Corcoran

The Reverend Dr. John Anthony Corcoran passed away peacefully with his wife by his side on Wednesday, January 15, 2014. The son of John and Margaret Corcoran, he was born in 1934 in Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland. Father Corcoran immigrated to the United States at the age of 17, where he served in the United States Army, earned a GED and later became a citizen. He subsequently earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Business Administration and worked many years for Chemical Bank. Having settled in New York City, he married Johanna Mollick and raised three daughters. A faithful member of the church, he served as a lector at Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Church and choir member at the Woodstock St Paul Community at Columbia University. During this time, he felt called to participate more fully in the liturgy and began to pursue theological studies at the Institute of Theology at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, where he also served as lay administrator. Ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in 1988, Father Corcoran served as associate Priest at St. Luke’s and St. Martin’s Episcopal churches in Harlem, New York for close to a decade. He continued his studies in ministry and theology over the years, eventually earning several graduate degrees and, ultimately, a Ph.D. in Theological Studies. In 1998, he left New York to settle in Portland, Maine with his second wife, Ruth. During his years in Portland, he served at the altar of St. Paul’s Church and was later appointed Canon. He went on to join the faculty at Logos House of Theological Studies, assisting with the education of candidates for ministry as deacons and priests in parish and pastoral settings. Father Corcoran will be remembered by family and friends for the twinkle in his eye, for his charm and beautiful Irish brogue, his droll sense of humor, his wicked sweet tooth, for being an avid opera lover and gifted tenor in his own right. He always had an interesting take on events here and abroad and he was stimulating to talk to. Being a good conversationalist he was also genuinely interested in those he spoke with . He could also tell a good yarn and his delivery impressed us all. He loved Portland, Smiling Hill Farm ice cream, and was a loyal Green Bay Packers fan. As all will remember, upon parting ways, he would leave you with the words “Have a happy.” Loved by all, he will be dearly missed. Father Corcoran is predeceased by his parents and his sisters, Imelda Haughey and Vera Corcoran. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Ruth; daughters Jacqueline, Jennifer and Joan; grandchildren Hannah, Megan, Mary, Samuel, Loucas and Alexander. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday January 25, 2014 at St. Paul’s Church, 279 Congress Street, Portland, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The Good Shepherd Food Bank.