Obituary: John Moynihan, social justice advocate, and Pilot columnist

John J. Moynihan, a familiar face to archdiocesan staff, a onetime writer for The Pilot and a longtime advocate for social justice in the archdiocese died in Framingham on Oct. 21. Perhaps his most satisfying and best known accomplishments came during his many years of service in the archdiocesan Planning Office for Urban Affairs.

An alumnus of Boston College, and Bridgewater State College he also attended Boston University’s graduate school of education. Among the endeavors he guided were the consolidation of Catholic Schools in East Boston; Massachusetts’s Fisherman’s Partnership, and the archdiocese’s Justice and Pace Commission. Mr. Moynihan had also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine; his daughters Kathleen Navarro, Cairo, Egypt; and Denise Gagne, Medford and two sister Barbara, Lexington, and Patricia Ward, Canton.

Mr. Moynihan was buried in Edgell Grove Cemetery, Framingham, following his funeral Mass at St. Cecilia Parish, Boston on Oct. 26.