John McLoughlin passed away peacefully in Wilmington, North Carolina on March 28, 2023. He is survived by Joan McLoughlin (nee Davison), his beloved wife of nearly 57 years, their children John and Laura, and their spouses, Justin and Bryan, grandchildren Margaret (Maggie), John (Jack), Brett and Ashlyn, and his dog Gus.
John (Jack, as he was known to his friends) was born January 6, 1943 in Brooklyn, New York to parents John and Lenora McLoughlin, and graduated from Fordham University with a BA in English in 1964. He began his career at Graybar Electric, working his way up to become the company’s then-youngest ever branch manager, working in their Hauppauge, New York location. He left Graybar to work in outside sales at Spectro Lume, the Lithonia Lighting agent in New York at that time. In 1984, he moved with his family from New York to Baltimore to found Maryland Lighting, a manufacturers’ representative agency representing Lithonia Lighting and other manufacturers for the State of Maryland. Maryland Lighting was successful from the start, and Jack was known for providing best-in-class benefits to all who worked for him and their families. His son John joined Maryland Lighting full time in 1992, and the two later became business partners. The company grew, expanded territory, and ultimately merged in 2004 with another manufacturers’ representative to form One Source Associates, which has since grown into a premier agency serving the Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia markets.Jack was an avid tennis and pickleball player who organized games for his friends and relished making new ones to invite to play with those he already had. His was a big, fun-loving personality on any court, and if he was playing, people were smiling. He loved his dogs, and was regularly seen by those who got out of bed early enough walking them at Oregon Ridge Park in Maryland, and later in Landfall in North Carolina. He was a voracious reader of The Bible and also of crime novels, which he shared with his friends after reading them himself.People blossomed around Jack. He encouraged his wife Joan to attend college as an adult, which she did, even playing on the school’s tennis team before graduating in 2000. He also delighted in her artistic success, took pleasure in the achievements of his children and grandchildren, and helped many friends recover physically and emotionally after surgeries, losses, and other major life events. He loved every member of his family unconditionally. Jack was a devout man who prayed The Rosary every day, loved his relationship with God, and prayed daily for countless friends and relatives. He volunteered regularly at Beans and Bread in Baltimore and The Sister Isaac Center (formerly St. Mary / Tileston Outreach) in Wilmington. As his meaningful life here ended, Jack was very much at peace. A Funeral Mass will be held celebrating Jack’s life on Saturday, April 15 at 11:00am at St. Therese Catholic Church, located at 209 Lumina Ave. S, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480. Parking is limited, so please plan accordingly.In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the following charities in Jack’s name:The Sister Isaac Center in Wilmington, NCLower Cape Fear LifeCare