John Walter McAuliffe

John Walter McAuliffe, 95, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2023, at his home in White Plains, NY. He was born on April 4, 1927, to John W. McAuliffe and Amelia (Rose) McAuliffe in Taunton, Massachusetts.

After service as a junior officer in the U.S. Navy at the conclusion of World War II, John received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his masters in Latin from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

John devoted his entire career to teaching Latin and Greek at prominent preparatory schools in the Northeast, most notably at the Hackley School in Tarrytown, NY, where he headed the Classics Department for 38 years until his retirement in 2003. In 1995 he was awarded the Alumni Humanities Chair. One year later he received the School's Oscar Kimelman Award for Distinguished Teaching. A remarkably skilled calligrapher, John for decades inscribed all the diplomas and certificates awarded to Hackley students.

His Irish-American heritage notwithstanding, John loved all things English. Every summer found him traveling to England, where he developed life long friendships with scholars and musicians of all ages. The Southern Cathedrals Festival became a fixture on his calendar. John also relished sacred music at home. Sunday usually found him driving into Manhattan for mass and, after a good Sunday lunch, evensong at sanctuaries such as St. John the Divine. John himself was an accomplished pianist and organist.

John is survived by nieces Karen Robertson of Wells, ME; Kathleen (Suni) Smith of Laguna Vista, TX; Kelli (Louis) Spencer of Benbrook, TX; and nephews Michael (Sherri) McAuliffe of Abilene, TX; Paul McAuliffe of Canterbury, NH; Robert (Wannee) McAuliffe of Lamlukka, Thailand; Jeff (Danielle) McAuliffe of Oldsmar, FL; John (Joanne) McAuliffe of Billerica, MA; and Kevin McAuliffe of Georgia.

John is also remembered fondly by longtime friend and former student Bruce Garrison of Ossining, NY.

John was preceded in death by his brothers the Rev. Robert McAuliffe, Eugene McAuliffe, and Francis (Gerry) McAuliffe.

Funeral services for John will be private.
Burial will be in the Arundel Cemetery, Kennebunkport, ME.

Memorial contributions may be made in John's name to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, www.nationalshrine.org.