John F. Sheahan
John F. Sheahan of Westhampton Beach died of a heart attack on October 22 at Peconic Bay Medical Center. He was 87.
A retired social service worker for Suffolk County, Mr. Sheahan was born in Harlem, New York, the first of four children of Irish immigrants Denis Sheahan of Kildorrery, County Cork, and Nora Foley of Cahirciveen in County Kerry.
In 1935, he and his family moved from Harlem to 106th Street off Central Park and he attended the Ascension Grammar School on 108th Street.
Upon graduation from Ascension, where he received the Excellence Medal, he attended LaSalle Academy High School on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and served as editor of the school’s newspaper, LaSallite.
His education was interrupted by service in the Army Corps of Engineers in Europe during World War II.
Upon his return, he enrolled at Columbia University and subsequently graduated with a bachelor of science degree in English in 1953.
He then entered the advertising business and joined J.M. Mathes. He was assigned to Canada Dry, and ultimately developed an innovative campaign for a new soft drink, “Wink,” which, according to family, was quite successful at first.
In the early 1960s, he purchased a house in Quogue with his first wife, Carol Joyce. They were later divorced and he then married Karen Campbell; The couple had one child, Maura.
Some time later Mr. Sheahan purchased a home in Westhampton Beach and not long thereafter he worked in the public relations department for the Social Service Department of Suffolk County.
In addition to his daughter, Maura Sheahan of Westhampton Beach, he is survived by two brothers, Kevin Sheahan and Denis Sheahan, both of Remsenburg.
He was predeceased by a sister, Mary Sheahan.
The family received visitors at Follett & Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach on October 25. Funeral services immediately followed at the Immaculate Conception Church in Westhampton Beach. Interment of ashes followed at Westhampton Beach Cemetery.
on Oct 27, 2010