By Kathy McGee-Burns
Add a new laurel for Jack McNamee, a 30-year board member, past president and past treasurer of the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association. This year, he will march up Broad Street as the parade’s grand marshal.
With 235 continuous years of marching in honor of St. Patrick, the Parade is the 2nd oldest in the country, outdone only by New York.
Jack started out as a parade marshal. He is first-generation Irish-American, with roots to be found in County Donegal. His parents, John McNamee, of Glenties, and Catherine Murray, of Creeslough, came to Philadelphia at separate times. They met at (surprise) a dance.
John worked for SEPTA for 38 years, while Catherine was a stay-at-home Mom. There were three McNamee children, Margie, Mary Jo and the youngest, Jack.
There was company every Friday night at the McNamee house with singing, dancing and great conversation. Margie would play the piano and family and friends would congregate. Jack loved the Irish music and his favorite song to sing was and still is “Four Green Fields.”
The children attended St. Benedict’s School, which was predominantly an Irish parish. Each year there would be a St. Patrick’s Play and Jack was always in it. Jack also remembers that each Friday, they would go to the post office and send money back to the Murray family in Donegal.
Jack graduated from Cardinal Dougherty and began to work with the Williamson Family and eventually was general manager of their City Line restaurant. Jim Williamson had nothing but praise for Jack. He had total faith and trust in his general manager. They were disappointed when they lost him but were thrilled at his success. Jim said a lot of people gave Jack advice and he took every bit of it. He took it to heart, filed it away and used it to make his own restaurant a triumph. This career spanned 29 years.
Jack decided to strike out on his own and opened CJ McGee’s, in Springfield, Delaware County. The C was for Catherine, J for John and McGee was his father’s nickname. With his excellent business skills he turned this into a highly successful venture. The family; Jack, wife, Loretta and Son, Sean, have worked this Irish Pub/Restaurant together for 16 years. They recently sold it.
Jack McNamee is a 30year member of the AOH Joseph E. Montgomery Division 65 and a member of the Donegal Association.
Jack McNamee’s generosity knows no limits. He is not showy about it and would never want anyone to know about it. He is a donor to his alma mater, Cardinal Dougherty.
During times of hardships to various organizations, he kept them afloat with donations and fundraisers. To the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Committee, he is the most giving.
His entrepreneurial skills are behind every event that is held. Jack McNamee has hosted virtually every committee and marshals meeting including the Annual Golf Outing. To Jack, being honored by your peers is an incredible experience
When association president Michael Bradley nominated Jack for this honor, he listed 10 reasons for why he was a worthy candidate. The first nine listed his accomplishments. The tenth summed up McNamee the man. In Bradley’s words: “While doing all the above quietly, he has never tooted his own horn, jumped in front of the camera, looked for recognition, accepted accolades, never complained or even once asked what’s in it for me.”
This, ladies and gentlemen, is Jack McNamee.
Kathy is 2nd vice president of the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association.
