John Madden Jr

John H. Madden Jr
1923-2021

John H. Madden, Jr., 97 of Longmeadow passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, April 12th, 2021. Born on May 8th, in Springfield MA, Jack, as he was known to all, was a graduate of Deerfield Academy (class of ‘41) and of Amherst College (class of ’47), where he displayed both a fierce intellect and a formidable talent as half-back on the football team. A veteran of WWII, from 1942-1946 Jack served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, stationed for active duty in England, France, and Germany. Upon his return from the war Jack received a degree from Yale Law School (class of ’49) and in 1952 joined the Springfield law firm at which he would practice civil litigation for over 45 years and which would eventually bear his name: Robinson, Donovan, Madden, & Barry. A longtime member of the American Bar Association, Jack was also a committed teacher with positions both at Harvard Law School and Western New England Law School, where he instructed classes for fourteen years. In his free time, Jack was an avid golfer, playing many rounds with family and friends at Longmeadow Country Club where he was a member, as well as a world traveler, a voracious reader, a skilled bridge player, and frequent crossword puzzler. He was well known for his love of dogs and of sweets. A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Jack will be dearly missed by his wife of 41 years, Valerie K. Madden, his children, Elizabeth, James, Leslie Kannan (Narasimhan), Ford (MaryBeth), Darren Dawson (Peg), Allison Wheaton (Dave). His 11 grandchildren, Vani, Chloe, and Madeleine Kannan, Jonathan Madden, M.D., Lara and Libby Madden, Tyler, Kevin and Nellie Dawson, Thomas William and John Harrison Wheaton. Jack was predeceased by his parents John H. Madden Sr. & Margaret McCarthy Madden, both of Springfield. His sister Margaret Madden McCabe and two of his children, daughter Carol A. Madden, of Knoxville, TN and his son John H. Madden, III, of Agawam. There will be no services, however, the next time you are hitting a golf ball or caring for a dog, please think of Jack. He would have loved to have been there.