Jack Healy, former Seaford Herald photographer, dies

John “Jack” Healy Sr., of Seaford, died on Jan. 17. Born in Brooklyn to Joseph and Margaret, Jack was the eldest of three children. He attended St. Frances de Chantal grammar school. The family moved to West Hempstead where he graduated from West Hempstead High School.  A proud U.S. Navy veteran, Jack joined the U.S. Navy reserves in 1955 and served on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ticonderoga as a Radarman First Class until 1957. 

He was the beloved husband of Audrey (née Dwyer) for 59 years. They met in 1960 at Adelphi College where she was studying to become a nurse and he was studying for his B.B.A.

Jack and Audrey married in 1963 and lived in Forest Hills. They welcomed son John, Jr. in March 1964. In 1967, they moved to a house in Seaford. Shortly after the move, their son Patrick was born in December 1967. In September 1974 they welcomed their daughter Lorraine. Jack was actively involved in his children’s lives, participating with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and attending numerous soccer games and dance recitals.

Audrey and Jack traveled worldwide, enjoying cruises and trips to China, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel and many other European countries.

In 1962, Jack began working at Chemical Bank, which became known as Chase Manhattan Bank, where he rose through the ranks to vice president of Domestic Private Banking. He retired in 1998 after a 36-year long career there.

Active in his community, Healy was president of the Seaford Library Board and an involved member of St. William the Abbot RC Church, where he served as Head Usher and helped process their weekly donations. He was also a third-degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Memorare Council.

Healy was renowned as a first responder photographer taking photos for local news outlets. He worked closely with the Wantagh and Seaford Volunteer Fire Departments and had his work regularly featured in Fire News, Newsday, The New York Times, and the New York Post. He was also a frequent freelance photographer for the Wantagh and Seaford Heralds.

In 2001, he worked alongside a close friend in the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on the DMORT Recovery Operations at the World Trade Center to help identify victims from 9/11.

Jack was the loving father of Jack, Jr., Patrick (Clarice), and Lorraine Joyce (Andrew), and dear brother of Alice Benson (Howard) and Joseph. Cherished grandfather of Madeline, Sean, Sophia, Alexandra, William, Danielle, Cassidy, and Aidan; uncle of Brian; and “Gampa Healy” of Erica.

A funeral mass was held on Jan. 21 at St. William the Abbot Roman Catholic Church in Seaford. In lieu of flowers, donations to Social Ministry at St. William the Abbott RC Church would be appreciated.