Obituary of Joseph P. McNichol Jr.

Joseph P. McNichol, Jr., 77, of Lafayette Hill. Saturday, November 17, 2018 quietly at home after a brief bout with cancer. 

Eldest of 13 children born into the loving family of Joseph P., Sr. and Eleanor (Magee). Joe attended LaSalle College High School and was a member of the 1957 Philadelphia city championship football team. Thus began a life-long love affair with the sport. He graduated Villanova University in 1963 then joined the faculty of Cardinal Dougherty H.S. in September of that year. In 1964, Joe began his coaching career as the freshman coach at Bishop McDevitt H.S. In 1966 he joined his long-time friend, John Quinn, as an offensive coordinator at newly opened Archbishop Ryan H.S. The very next year Archbishop John Carroll H.S. was to open in Radnor. Joe applied for head football coach. Not only did he secure that post, he was also hired as Athletic Director. As A.D. Joe went on to build what is to this day one of the premier high school athletic programs in the Delaware Valley. Yet it was football that Joe loved most. He was the head coach at Carroll from 1969 through 1976. During that span he would become known as “the father of Archbishop Carroll football.” In just its third season, 1971, his team won the Philadelphia city championship. Carroll repeated as city champs in 1976. Joe mentored many all-league and all-city players, some, Bill Zwaan (West Chester U.), Kevin Clancy (Strath Haven H.S.), went on to establish their own successful coaching careers. In 1977 Joe relocated to Ventnor, N.J. as he joined the faculty and took the reins of the Atlantic City H.S. football team. But Joe was a Philly guy. Back home in 1979, he entered the business world as he partnered with a friend to help him grow his budding company. Joe returned to coaching in 1986 as offensive coordinator at Bishop Kendrick H.S. He coached at Kendrick for two seasons. In 1988 Joe returned to his alma mater, LaSalle, as offensive coordinator. He was proud to have the opportunity to coach his son, Joseph P., III. He was instrumental in helping coach Joe Colistra claim the city championship in 1989. Among Joe’s distinguished honors are: Archbishop Carroll H.S. hall of fame, LaSalle College H.S. hall of fame, Delco Sports hall of fame. In 1991 Joe retired from coaching.  He returned to his beloved Archbishop Carroll in 2014 as director of maintenance until he succumbed to his cancer.

Joe is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Kalin. He is survived by daughter Shannon Grebe (John Gordon), grandsons Zack and Matt, granddaughter Kara and son Joe III, grandson Tiernan and granddaughter Abigail.

He is preceded in death by two infant brothers, Michael and Kevin, and a sister, Kathleen (Perthes). He is survived by Eleanor (SSJ), Thomas (Therese), Vincent (Rosemary), Stephen, Cecelia (Skierski), David (Karen), Christopher (Nancy), Mary-Jo (Tsikitas) and Anne Marie

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to:

        The Timothy J. McNichol ‘97Grant Fund

        LaSalle College High School

        8605 Cheltenham Ave

        Wyndmoor, PA 19038

Visitation will be held at St. Phillip Neri Church 437 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 on Sunday November 25, 2018 from 5pm to 7pm and Monday November 26, 2018 from 10am to 11am followed by Mass at 11am.