John E. "Jiggs" McHale, a proud 1958 graduate of then Mansfield State Teachers College, who would go on to connect with, engage, and inspire generations of Mountaineers over the past 68 years, passed away on May 6, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was 91 ¾ years old.

To those who had the privilege of knowing him, Jiggs was a leprechaun of a man in more than appearance. He charmed listeners as he wove his love for his alma mater into a mystical spell that he sprinkled far and wide to anyone and everyone he met – and Jiggs seemingly met everybody.

If you ever tried to understand what is so special about being a Mountaineer, all you had to do was spend an hour with Jiggs. He was uniquely genuine and welcoming, fun and warm with a laugh so real it would disarm people from the first meeting. But most importantly, you could sense this was someone who cared. He cared about you and adopted you into his life where you became a forever friend.

After graduating from MSTC, Jiggs and seven classmates were quickly recruited by an expanding Prince George's County Public School system in Maryland. Many of them, including Jiggs, advanced to principal and administration positions. He loved working with students and faculty, building confidence, establishing discipline, encouragement and trust. Jiggs excelled in his profession. To the end of his life, he credited his professors at Mansfield for providing him a first-class education.
 

A true Irishman, Jiggs was famous for telling stories, but seemingly everyone who ever met him at Mansfield has a story about Jiggs.

When he retired in 1995, Jiggs started his second chapter of his love affair with Mansfield. He visited campus often during the past 31 years, throwing himself into dozens of projects and assisting in any task asked of him – as well as a number of projects that he initiated on his own, without asking anyone's permission.

Unknown to the administration, Jiggs commissioned a Mansfield student to paint a garage wall facing one of the busiest highways in the Scranton area with an advertisement for the newly formed sprint football program.  The display garnered plenty of media attention, resulting in numerous Mountaineer recruits. All the while, the folks in North Hall were scratching their heads trying to determine who had authorized it.

At times, he seemed to be on campus more than many students. Jiggs was interested in and proud to support athletic contests, concerts and special events such as Alumni Weekend, Homecoming Weekend, and the Steve Zegalia Memorial Golf Tournament. People on campus started referring to the Alumni House as the House of Jiggs and he rarely needed an appointment when he felt the need to talk to the President.

Jiggs relished listening to the incoming class during the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, often moved to emotion by their pride in Mansfield for giving them the opportunity to excel. He would recruit classmates from his era at Mansfield to return for football's annual Butsko Breakfast, being named the inaugural Austin Snyder Alumni Appreciation Award recipient at the event in 2010.

In June of 2024, Jiggs had a special reunion with fellow alums Dr. Bob Leslie and Joe Murphy, two of his former roommates at Mansfield, when his family hosted a 90th birthday celebration for him in Annapolis, Md. The Alumni Office joined in the celebration by proclaiming it "Jiggs McHale Day" to thunderous applause. Dr. Leslie, living in California, was so pleased to reconnect with Jiggs that he arranged to visit the Mansfield campus for the first time since he graduated for Homecoming Weekend.

Jiggs embarked on a scouting mission in preparation for the event, remarkably driving the almost 500-mile round trip from his home in Bowie, Md. to Mansfield by himself to attend the Steve Zegalia Golf Tournament.

Two months later, in what would prove to be his last trip to Mansfield, Jiggs and Dr. Leslie had the time of their lives as Co-Grand Marshals of the Homecoming Parade. Riding in a vintage 1958 classic automobile, the pair thoroughly enjoyed attending all the events that weekend including a special talk with the baseball team.
 

Jiggs' health began to be compromised the following year, but he was still reaching out to Mansfield friends and fellow alums on a consistent basis.

Even when others sensed his end was near, Jiggs was still making plans to attend the Zegalia Golf Tournament this July.

Jiggs life was built around family, faith, and friendship. He first and foremost adored and idolized his family and had the piety of a Pope.

Jiggs came from a different era, but fit into and made friends with every generation of Mountaineers. For Jiggs McHale, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was located in Mansfield and for Mansfield the pot of gold was Jiggs McHale.

Thanks for showing us the way Jiggs – you were just super.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John "Jiggs" McHale Scholarship through the Mansfield University Mountaineer Foundation:

Mansfield University Mountaineer Foundation
204 South Hall
71 South Academy St.
Mansfield, PA 16933

Please note in the memo line: John "Jiggs" McHale Scholarship.

For online donations, visit mountaineerfdn.org, select Make A Gift, and designate that the gift is in memory of John "Jiggs" McHale.