John Francis Welsh died on March 15, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
John was born on August 5, 1934 to Dr. Thomas F. and Helen (Reid) Welsh in Salt Lake City. He was the grandson of three-term Park City Mayor John F. and Theresa Agnes (Foley) Welsh, one of the early Irish founders of Park City. John loved his family, faith and being unabashedly Irish. He loved singing, the Running Utes and any and all electronic gadgets. He was the last surviving member of the extended family who worked at the legendary Welsh, Driscoll & Buck mercantile in Park City.
John graduated from Judge Memorial Catholic High School in 1952. He attended the University of Utah, until being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1956. While stationed at Fort Devens in Massachusetts, he met and fell in love with Mary Imelda Sullivan and married her in Lowell, Massachusetts on July 5, 1958. After the birth of their first child, they returned to Salt Lake City, where he was employed by Sperry Univac.
John and Mary were early parishioners of St. Ambrose Parish and he was proud all of his children graduated from both J.E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School and Judge. Through the years, John devoted many thousands of hours volunteering in many capacities throughout the Salt Lake Valley. In addition to coaching boys’ baseball for over 50 years, he also coached basketball, football and girls softball. John was one of the founders of the Hibernian Society of Utah and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Salt Lake City. He helped build many youth sports facilities, including St. Ann’s baseball complex and the Judge Memorial football stadium. For many years he was the voice of Bulldog football and turkey bingo. He was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus. After retirement he eagerly served as a member of the DAV honor guard at fellow veterans’ funerals.
John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary; and ten children Karen Gygi (Scott) of Pleasant Grove; Jayne Surbeck (Kelly) of Monterey, California; TJ (Susan) Welsh of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; Mary Kate (John) Tikotsky of Los Angeles, California; Jennifer (Bruce) Pittenger of Monterey, California; Thomas Welsh (Kristal) of Salt Lake; Meghan (Jaret) Gibson of Salt Lake; John Welsh (Cheryl) of Allenstown, New Hampshire; Joe Welsh of Salt Lake; and Patrick Welsh (Marie) of Salt Lake; 18 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; four nephews and two nieces (Lytle family); and cousins Gay Gallivan McDonough of Salt Lake and Donald Bambenek of Gig Harbor, Washington.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother (Thomas Francis Welsh, Jr); sister and brother-in-law (Helen Frances Welsh Lytle and William Hamilton Lytle); sister (Mary Barbara Welsh), an infant son; and his beloved cousin, Margaret “Margie” Hearley May.
A Mass and celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
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