Wellsville, NY - At 11:00 pm on Friday, June 24th, 2016, John Joseph Cosgrove Jr. (“Jack”, J.J.) succumbed to a long and arduous battle with both malignant melanoma and kidney cancer. He was surrounded by family in the comfort of his daughter’s home in Buffalo N.Y, where he has been a resident for the past three months.
John was born on December 4th, 1943 in Buffalo, N.Y. to John J. Cosgrove Sr. and Mary G. R. Ayers. He graduated from Bishop Timon High School in 1962 and then was an active member of in the U. S. Navy from 1962-1966. He also attended The University of Buffalo and Alfred State College. John graduated from the N.Y.S. Police Academy in 1967 and after serving 31 years as a N.Y.S. Trooper, he retired in 1998. During his career, he mentored many new troopers.
On August 23rd, 1969, John married Carol E. Potter of Wellsville, N.Y. at St. Bonaventure University Chapel, in Olean, NY.
In addition to being a police officer, John also worked at the Wellsville Post Office, as a transport operator for Scio Central School and Randolph Academy, and he also worked as staff at Randolph Academy and On-Site Technical Services. John was an active volunteer in the community. He volunteered at the Immaculate Conception School/Church where he was a devout parishioner, he assisted at the Hart Bros. and Sons Memorials, he was a supporter of Wellsville High School Athletics and the Wellsville Women’s Slo-Pitch League. John and Carol were also the foster parents of 18 children in the community over the years. They also had many “Rent-A-Kids.”
His hobbies included reading, building military model airplanes, and spending as much time with his family and grandchildren as possible. He was a member of A.A.S.T., The American Legion, The Loyal Order of the Moose, the N.R.A., The V.F.W., and the Wellsville Rod and Gun Club.
He was predeceased by nephew Patrick A. Stanton, parents Mary and John Cosgrove Sr., and father-in-law Richard B. Potter.
John is survived by wife Carol, daughters Christine (Don) Marchese, Renee (Matthew) Menegay, Mary B. Cosgrove, Angela Cosgrove (Lonny Leffler), Molly (Arthur) Reed, son John R. Cosgrove, and 7 grandchildren, Jordin C. E. Stein, Trevor J. Marchese, Ian J. Reed, Christian D. Reed, Brendan C. Menegay, Gabriella C. Reed, and Anna E. Reed, also by siblings, Carol (Bob) Connors, Eleanor (John) Stanton, Colleen (David) Braun, and Dr. William (Dorothy) Cosgrove, mother-in-law Gladys D. Potter, sister-in-law Lisa Lewis, brother’s-in-law Richard (Sonny) Potter, Duane Potter, and Harvey Potter and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Friends are invited to call on Wednesday, June 29th from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons F.H. in Wellsville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Thursday in the Immaculate Conception Church of Wellsville.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of John to the scholarship program of A.A.S.T. (American Association of State Troopers web address: www.statetroopers.org), The Hart Comfort House, The David A. Howe Public Library or any charity of your choice. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.