John “Jack” Hegarty Sr.

FORT MCCOY, Fla. – John Michael Hegarty Sr, 81, peacefully passed away June 11, 2021, at his residence in Fort McCoy, Fla. “Jack” was a retired, registered Maine guide, U.S. Navy veteran, outdoorsman and professional photographer who lived life to its fullest.

He was born June 3, 1940, in Cambridge, Mass.; raised in Nashua, N.H., a once rural, agricultural community where ‘everyone lived on a farm’. He attended St. Christopher’s Catholic School and graduated from Nashua High in 1958. As a youth, he served as an altar boy with hopes of becoming a priest. However, after school one day, he dared to ask his future wife, Katherine (LaPorte-Murray) and her friend if they’d like a ride home. It was love at first sight.

After high school, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy. When asked by the recruiter what special skills he had, he replied that he could take photographs, an answer which led him to a chance enrollment in the Navy’s photography school. He served aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS Wasp, as an airman navigator and aerial photographer. He was selected as the U.S. Naval White House photographer, where he often photographed President John F. Kennedy and his family. In 2008, Jack was decorated with a medal of honor by Senator Susan Collins for his naval squadron’s covert participation in the Bay of Pigs Invasion.

Post Navy, Jack worked as a professional photographer at Sanders Associates in Nashua, N.H. and later as a cinematographer with outdoorsman Lee Wulff. They traveled extensively filming Ecuador for Marlin, Giant Tuna Small Boat in the North Sea, Upland Gunner and Whitetail. Jack founded North American Outdoorsman to produce hunting and fishing films in Canada working with the Inuit Eskimos on Mistassini for Me, Ungava Char, the Quebec/Labrador Caribou and Labrador Trophy Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon (with angler Joan Wulff).

Concurrently, Jack and Kathy settled down in Jackman to raise two sons, became registered Maine guides, and ran their family business, Cozy Cove Cabins on Big Wood Lake. As a team, they moved deeper into the woods to renovate and operate The Last Resort Lodge and Cabins on Long Pond, living without electricity and having to snowmobile as the only way to access their home during the winters. Lastly, the Hegartys owned and operated a small motel, Ocean Villa in Flagler Beach, Fla.

During retirement, Jack traveled around the United States with his companion, Shirley Fortier. Together by motorhome, they visited the northern tier states, the West Coast, the Rocky Mountains and in the Ocala National Forest, seeing Mt Rushmore, the giant redwoods, the ancient pueblos, the petrified forest, the Grand Canyon and other national treasures. In their travels, they had lots of ‘close calls’ due to brakes failing, belts snapping, fluids leaking and tires blowing out which were all referred to as ‘Farkle moments’. He always expected and welcomed such challenges in life.

Mr. Hegarty is survived by his two sons and their families, John and Maritza Hegarty (West Hartford, Conn.), James and Iran Hegarty (Deal, Md.); and his grandchildren Nikki, Cameron, Gwendolyn, Jessenia and Hassel. He is also survived by his siblings James Hegarty (Jackman), Ellen and Leo Lebel (Hudson, N.H.) and Gerry Hegarty (Laurel, Md.); as well as nieces and nephews Kerry, Corey, Christine, Timothy, and Jason.

He was predeceased by his parents James and Margaret Hegarty (Nashua, N.H.); and by his loving wife of 29 years, Katherine Hegarty, who was killed in 1992 in a wrongful death, police shooting (Dennistown). She is the namesake for the Katherine Hegarty Law, used throughout the U.S. to encourage negotiations prior to police storming into private homes. Her loss was the most tragic moment of his life.

Jack possessed the gift of gab and a quick wit which captivated any listener. He will be fondly remembered for his humorous, optimistic spirit. No matter where he would go, a group would form around him to listen to his tall tales of adventure. His favorite part of storytelling was when someone would say “Really?” to which he would smile. The Maine Circle Fly and the Game Warden and the Poacher were among his favorite stories to tell.

Jack had many dear, lifelong friends and anyone meeting him quickly became a new friend. He had the uncanny luck of bumping into someone he knew wherever he was traveling. Friendships were a key part of his life. He loved people and they felt it in a special way. Each December, he would send up to 250 Christmas postcards. He was “a character” much loved and will be dearly missed.