John was born in Lynn, Mass. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 1957. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Korea Defense Service Medal. He received two gold medals and two silver medals from the Ancient Order of Hibernians for prize winning Irish History essays and a Theology Medal from Boston College. He has worked as an assistant editor and writer for the IUE Local 201 Union paper and has written articles and columns for the Hibernian Digest, the Irish People, the Daily Lynn Item, the Lynn Sunday Post and the Meredith News, among others. Presently, he is a caregiver to his wife, Jane[the former Jane Buxton] and they are the parents of two sons, Timothy and John, and five daughters, Martina, Sara Barbara, Colleen, and Kathleen. They have 20 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.