John “Jack” C. Fay

John “Jack” C. Fay, Sr. of Gradyville, PA, formerly of Havertown, PA, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2026 at the age of 88. 

Jack was born in 1938 in Bryn Mawr, PA, the son of John Fay and Alice Bolger Fay. He attended Annunciation BVM school and Haverford High School. After graduating from Haverford High in 1956, he served in the United States Army and the United States Army Reserves. As a young private, he interacted with older soldiers who had professional careers in engineering. This had a profound impact on him. He decided to further his education, becoming the first member of his family to go to college. In 1963 Jack earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from West Chester State College and a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Delaware in 1969.

Jack was truly a “jack of all trades”: over his long life he delivered newspapers and groceries, painted houses, drove a school bus, taught classes, worked in government administration, and built and sold houses.

Jack’s early career focused on government administration and he worked many years for the state of Pennsylvania, serving as personnel director at the Eastern PA Psychiatric Institute. In the 1970s, he pivoted to real estate, and started his own firm, Fay Real Estate, which he ran for over 40 years.

From a young age Jack was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed any game that involved a ball, but baseball was his favorite and he was a lifelong Philadelphia Phillies fan. As a young man he played softball in several Havertown area leagues and as an older man, he loved playing whiffle ball with his family. He pitched every game of the annual family Easter whiffle ball game.

With a twinkle in his eye and a playful smile on his lips, Jack loved to joke and tease. But he also had a deep intellectual curiosity about the world and was an avid reader of fiction, history, science, finance, and mathematics. Even up to his last days he enjoyed learning new things and telling his family about his studies, in topics ranging from biology to particle physics to the cosmos.

Above all, Jack found joy in sharing life’s everyday moments with the people he loved. His curiosity, playful spirit, and gift for thoughtful conversation created memories that his family will treasure forever.

Jack is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Bernadette (née Kershaw), his son, John (Rika Suzuki), his daughter Carolyn (AC Capehart), his granddaughter Samantha Fay Capehart, his sister Kay Moore, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services are private.

Contributions in Jack’s memory may be made to The Animal Coalition of Delaware County in honor of his lifelong affection for cats: https://acdcrescue.org/donate/

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