Celebrating the life of
John William McCloskey
September 19, 1925 - June 01, 2017
Our beloved Jack passed away in Savannah, Georgia on the afternoon of June 1, in the loving arms of his wife Leslie.
Jack was born in Mahanoy City, Pa., a coal-mining town, on Sept. 19, 1925. His mother, the former Beulah Spade, was a homemaker; his father, Eddie, was a miner.
Jack lettered in baseball, football and basketball in high school, then played football at the University of Pittsburgh before serving in the Navy at Okinawa during World War II.
After the war, he finished his education at the University of Pennsylvania, where he continued to play three varsity sports. After graduating he played one game with the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA before becoming a teacher and high school basketball coach.
Jack became the head basketball coach at Penn in the mid-1950s and stayed there until he took over Wake Forest’s program in 1966.
In 1972 Jack moved to the NBA, as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and later joined the Los Angeles Lakers and coach Jerry West’s staff.
In 1979 he became general manager for the Detroit Pistons, where his steady leadership and canny decisions paved the way for their first two National Basketball Association Championships, in 1989 and ’90.
In Detroit Jack drafted the future Hall of Fame players Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman. He also engineered a string of trades, earning the nickname Trader Jack. These moves were the genesis of what would become the Bad Boys team that would come to dominate the league.
After the NBA, Jack and Leslie retired to Skidaway Island, where he formed great friendships and kept his competitive juices flowing playing golf, tennis and bridge.
He is survived by his wife Leslie, six children from his first marriage, his sons, Michael, Steve, John and Roman, and his daughters, Robin and Molly McCloskey; a stepson, Ryan Gray; a stepdaughter, Lisa Haugen; 14 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
A Service will be held at 4pm on June 24th at the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church, 54 Diamond Causeway, Savannah, GA 31411. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be sent to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Please sign our on-line guest book at www.foxandweeks.com
So sorry to hear of your loss. We have such fond memories of us all in Lake Oswego and are thankful that we could share the moments with you all. Leslie, we know what a great loss this is to you. May God give you the strength to continue thru life with all the wonderful memories you have. Bill and Joan Eggers
- Bill and Joan Eggers, Orinda,Ca., ca
I have great memories of working for Jack as manager of the basketball team at Penn in the late 1950's. He was a great leader and competitor. My condolences to the family.
- Bob Weber, Buffalo, NY
My love and prayers to all of your family. Richard Ragland
- Richard Ragland, Winston Salem, NC
So sorry to hear of your loss. We have such fond memories of us all in Lake Oswego and are thankful that we could share the moments with you all. Leslie, we know what a great loss this is to you. May God give you the strength to continue thru life with all the wonderful memories you have. Bill and Joan Eggers
- Bill and Joan Eggers, Orinda,Ca., ca
I have great memories of working for Jack as manager of the basketball team at Penn in the late 1950's. He was a great leader and competitor. My condolences to the family.
- Bob Weber, Buffalo, NY
My love and prayers to all of your family. Richard Ragland
- Richard Ragland, Winston Salem, NC
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
