John Lawrence Sughrue

John Lawrence Sughrue, 83, of Cleveland, Tennessee passed away on May 15, 2020. He was surrounded by close friends and family.

John was born on October 30, 1936 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the late Ellen P. and Lawrence T. Sughrue. He was their only son and the youngest of six children.

John attended St. Mary of the Mount school in Mount Washington, Pittsburgh and graduated from high school at Cornwells Seminary School. Although he did not follow into the priesthood, this may have been the primary source for the nickname he received from his brothers-in-law: “Saint John”.

John was a member of the National Guard and attended Duquesne Catholic University in Pittsburgh. He graduated with a degree in accounting at Robert Morris University in downtown Pittsburgh.

In 1962, John attended an AMICATH bowling league party in which he met young Lorraine Cichowicz, from the South Side of Pittsburgh. The couple married in 1964, and there they had their first two children: Patricia Ann and John Anthony Sughrue. John received a job offer in Calhoun, Tennessee and moved the family to Tennessee in 1966. Soon thereafter, the couple had three more children, Thomas Edward, Margaret Ellen and Karen Marie Sughrue. After three years, John took a new job at Mallory Battery in Cleveland, Tennessee which eventually became Duracell. John spent the rest of his career of over thirty years as an accountant for Duracell, to retire in 2000.

Throughout his life in Cleveland, John was a member of the St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church. Here, he met several life-long friends and as a bass singer, he became the longest steady member of the St. Therese choir. He was a long-standing member of the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club.

John was also an avid bridge player, actively participating in local and regional leagues, eventually becoming a Life Master then, Silver Life Master in 2010.

Aside from his wife, family, friends and his church, John’s main loves in life were singing, bridge, other card games, golf, Sudoku, and being a grandfather. He was always cheerful and smiling, loved all people and most of all, loved being with his friends and family.

John L. Sughrue is preceded in death by three sisters: Mary Ellen Watterson, Joan Werling and his twin sister Barbara Sughrue Lewis and her son Dale.

He is survived by his remaining sisters: Margaret Ruff and Kass (Bob) Becker; his dear loving wife of 56 years: Lorraine Sughrue and their five children: Patricia Ann Armour, John Anthony Sughrue, Thomas Edward ( Nikki Bowman) Sughrue, Margaret Ellen (Archimidis) Kalaitzidis, Karen Marie Sughrue, their five grandchildren: Miltiadis John, Alexander Thomas, and Jason Lawrence Kalaitzidis, Stacy Andrea Armour, and Sophie Annalynn Sughrue. John is also survived by 31 nieces and nephews, their children and grandchildren.

The family will have a private family mass at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church at a later date.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Sughrue family guestbook at www.fikefh.com