John A. McDonnell

John “Jack” McDonnell of Swarthmore died peacefully on Monday, November 29, 2021, in Lankenau Hospital, Wynnewood. He was 84.

Born in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, Jack was the son of the late Francis A. and Mary McDonnell. He proudly served in the United States Army and had lived in Swarthmore for the past 60 years.

Jack graduated from the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy and owned and operated Michael’s College Pharmacy in Swarthmore for over 40 years. He loved being a community pharmacist and was an integral part of the Swarthmore business community for many years.

He also had a beautiful tenor voice, and enjoyed singing and performing in area theatres, including Players Club of Swarthmore, Candlelight Dinner Theatre, and the Three Little Bakers. His favorite roles included Harold Hill in The Music Man and Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors. In his day, he was affectionately known as the Premier Tenor of Delaware County.

Jack is survived by his family members, Tim Whelan (John Gardner) of Wilmington, Delaware, and Kelsey Whelan of Baltimore, Maryland.

Visitation will be on Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by his funeral mass at 11 a.m. Both will take place at Our Lady of Peace Church, 208 Milmont Avenue, Milmont Park, Pennsylvania.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Players Club of Swarthmore, 614 Fairview Road, Swarthmore, PA 19081.

Messages of condolence can be posted here.