John Richard McNellis

April 26, 1938 – June 9, 2025

John Richard McNellis, 87, of Odenton, Maryland, passed away peacefully at home on June 9, 2025, surrounded by family.

Born on April 26, 1938, in Waterbury, Connecticut, John was the heart of his large and close-knit family. He shared 65 wonderful years of marriage with his wife, Beverly McNellis. He was a devoted father to Robert (Diane), Linda (Steve), Kathy, Sharon (A.D.), and Lisa (Jon), and a proud “Papa” to 13 grandchildren—Jessica (Derek), Stephen, Lindsay (TJ), Ryan (Gabby), Heather (David), Shannon (Kevin), Sean, Cara (Shawn), Bonnie, Virginia, Caroline, Kyle, and Timothy—and six great-grandchildren Hope, Reagan, Max, Blair, Clara, and Grace. He is also survived by his sister, Margaret Martin.

John and Beverly spent over 50 years raising their family in Bowie, Maryland.

John worked as an aerospace engineer, contributing to the Apollo missions and later spending over 20 years at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. Along the way, many of his coworkers became lifelong friends. His intelligence was matched only by his humility.

John was an avid sports fan. Over the years, he played in local softball leagues and was a familiar face at the Bowie gym, where he enjoyed pickup basketball games well into his later years. A lifelong Red Sox fan and longtime follower of the Washington Wizards, John’s passion for the game was something he passed down through generations.

He will be remembered for his warm personality, positive outlook, and quick wit. John had a gift for making others feel welcome, and found his greatest joy in the company of his family. His strong Catholic faith was central to his life and values.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Crofton, MD on 6/17/2025 at 11:00AM. The burial will take place at Lakemont Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Parkinson Voice Project or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

St. Jude Link: https://www.stjude.org/donate

Parkinson Voice Project Link: https://parkinsonvoiceproject.org/donate