Obituary of Francis McIlhenny

Francis Xavier McIlhenny was born April 14, 1942 in Germantown, Philadelphia.   He was the middle child of his father, Francis McIlhenny and mother Sabina Sonzogni, with older sisters Sabine (Mandell) and Eileen (Robertshaw) and younger siblings Anita (Gabrielitis/deceased) and Vincent McIlhenny.  
   

He graduated from Immaculate Conception (1956), Cardinal Dougherty High School (1960), and Lasalle University, where he studied economics .  He started in the mail room at General Electric and worked his way up to negotiating defense contracts with the government for them, Martin Marietta, and Lockheed Martin.  He was known for entertaining families by playing Batman during elaborate company Christmas party productions and saving Santa and the kids from The Joker and the Penguin.
   

He rowed for Penn AC and played basketball for them at Plastid Hall on Boat House Row, where he was known as The Hawk and Fluidity in Motion by his opponents and teammates 
He loved to read, travel, go to movies, and spend time with his family.  He was known for his amazing sense of humor, selflessness, generousity and wisdom. 

After retirement he spent his summers in Cape Cod and winters in Gainesville Florida   He is survived by his wife Joanne Lindauer McIlhenny, his son Richard (wife Marissa), and daughters Lisa McIlhenny Pereira, Ruth McIhenny, Sarah McIlhenny White (husband Morgan), and Julia McIlhenny Glorioso (husband Richard) and 13 grandchildren and 1 great grandson.

There will be a viewing held for Francis on Sunday night, Oct 14 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Lownes Family Funeral Home 659 Germantown Pk. Lafayette Hill PA, 19444

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Francis on Monday, Oct 15 at 10:30 AM at Holy Cross Church 140 E. Mt Airy Ave, Philadelphia

His Viewing will be held on Monday, Oct 15 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the church before the Service

Francis's Interment will take place following the Service at George Washington Memorial Park 80 Stenton Ave., Plymouth Meeting

“In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Francis McIlhenny in support of Dr. Sato’s Uveal Melanoma Research at Jefferson’s Cancer Center.  Donations can be mailed to Office of Institutional Advancement, Jefferson, 125 S. 9thStreet, Suite 600, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

**When mailing in donations please be sure to include ‘In Memory of Francis McIlhenny’ in the memo of the check.