John Joseph “Jack” McCormack Jr. passed away peacefully on November 18, 2025, after a prolonged illness.
Jack was born on January 20, 1938, in Boston to John J. McCormack and Winifred (Hunt) McCormack. He grew up in Brookline, Mass., in the neighborhood known as Whiskey Point and there attended St. Mary’s High School. Jack was an excellent student, earning a prestigious Ford Foundation scholarship to his alma mater Boston College, where he graduated in 1959 with a BS in chemistry, lettering in both varsity cross-country and track. Jack then went on to study at Yale University, earning a PhD in pharmacology in 1964.
While a graduate student at Yale, Jack met the love of his life, Grace Mary McGraw, and they were married on June 30, 1962. In 1964 Jack, Grace and daughter Sheila moved to Australia, where daughter Mary was born. After a prestigious two-year U.S. Cancer Institute Fellowship at the National University in Canberra, where he performed research on a new class of cancer-fighting drugs, Jack joined the faculty of the Pharmacology Department at the University of Vermont’s School of Medicine in 1966, and the family settled in the Burlington area, where daughter Kristina and son John Patrick were born.
Jack had a long, illustrious career at the University of Vermont spanning nearly five decades, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, serving on numerous committees, advising PhD students, and leading the Retired Faculty Senate. He was most passionate about his research for new cancer treatments and served for many years on the board of the Vermont chapter of the American Cancer Society.
As accomplished as Jack was professionally, he was just as devoted to his children, teaching his daughters to play baseball long before there were girls’ softball teams and coaching his son in hockey and soccer. Jack supported youth sports for many years, coaching BAHA hockey, Burlington Parks and Recreation soccer teams, and Burlington International Games teams, even after his children were grown.
Love of God, family and music was the foundation of Jack’s life. He was an active member of the University of Vermont Newman Center and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception parish in Burlington, where he sang in the choir and served as cantor for many years. Jack shared his love of music as a tenor in a several choral groups, including the Vermont Choral Union, Syrinx musical group and Aurora Chamber Singers. Jack was also a longtime supporter of the Craftsbury Chamber Players and Vermont Mozart Festival. In his later years, Jack loved spending time with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His grandchildren have many fond memories of Jack going to their sporting events and bringing them to UVM hockey games. As the grandchildren grew up and started families of their own, Jack visited them as often as he could wherever they lived.
Jack is survived by his children, Sheila (Jeff), Mary, Kristina and John (Nina), and grandchildren, Jeffrey John, Thomas (Shauna) and Matthew Royer; Jasper (Justin) Gruel, Ryan and Jack Fitzgerald; Ciara (Gavin) Greenwalt; and Dylan Gumaer, Aiden and Abigail McCormack. Jack is also survived by his great-grandchildren: Adeleine, Charlotte and Lydia Gruel; and Olive Roisin Greenwalt. Jack is also survived by his sisters Marie McCardle, Irene McCormack and Barbara Manie; and his sisters-in-law Norma McCormack and Mary McGraw; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Jack was predeceased by his beloved wife, Grace; his brothers, Edward and Thomas McCormack; sisters Jean Mally and Theresa McCormack; and brothers-in-law David (and wife Mary), James and Edward McGraw.
For all his accomplishments and his contributions to both the University of Vermont and to the Burlington community, Jack will be remembered above all to those who knew him for his courtesy, kindness, quick wit and his unending love for his family.
In lieu of flowers, donations made be made in Jack’s name to the American Cancer Society, online at donate.cancer.org or by mail to American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741; or to Make-A-Wish Vermont & Northeast New York, online at wish.org/vtny or by mail to Make-A-Wish Vermont & Northeast New York, 6655 Shelburne Rd., Suite 300, Shelburne, VT 05482.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, November 23, 2025, 5 to 7 p.m., at Ready Funeral Service, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, VT 05401. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, November 24, 2025, 11 a.m., at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 160 Hinesburg Rd., South Burlington, VT 05403, followed by burial in Resurrection Park Cemetery.
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To share online condolences, please visit readyfuneral.com.
Jack McCormack was one of the finest people I ever met – although he had strong opinions he was always gracious, civil, and generous. He had a keen wit and a wonderful sense of humor. He loved UVM, and was a great teacher, mentor and friend to countless students and colleagues. When asked for help, he stepped forward without hesitation. And he certainly enjoyed recounting the accomplishments of his many grandchildren in local sports, particularly high school ice hockey. The world was a better place when Jack was around and he will be missed by the many people he touched.
Jack was the best. His voice (literally and figuratively) will be sorely missed in our community. What a beautiful one it was!
Jack was a wonderful UVMer. He enjoyed the fact that I had completed a lengthy biography of US House Speaker John W, McCormack (Bloomsbury Academic, 2017). I gave him a signed copy of the book, and he told me that many people in Boston thought he was related to the speaker and gave him favorable work assignments as a result. Jack’s honesty led him to tell his employers that he was unrelated to the Speaker and he lost his work privileges. I can’t imagine anyone other than Jack who would forfeit his privileges in the name of personal integrity. No surprise to me. He will be missed. RIP Jack, Garrison