John Tolman McCourt departed this world on November 7, 2023, surrounded by the warmth of family at his daughter's home in Shawnee, Kansas where he lived for the last two years. He was 73 years old.

Born on October 7, 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, John was the eldest child of Andrew and Lexie McCourt. A man of wit and humor, he couldn't resist a playful jab. John spent his formative years in Severna Park, Maryland, and later settled in Columbia, Maryland. There, with his then-wife, Kara Skeberdis, they lovingly raised their two daughters, Lacey and Molly.

Professionally, John carved his path as a Printing Pressman, leaving an indelible mark in Silver Spring, Maryland, as well as New York and New Jersey. A connoisseur of the culinary world, he knew the best pastrami and pizza spots, and his heart belonged to the allure of a perfectly crafted dirty water dog.

Lacey and Molly would describe their father as the smartest and funniest man in the entire universe. Renowned for his intelligence, or as he modestly called it, "curiosity," John was equally known for his generosity and his gentle, kind demeanor. He would solve equations for fun and had entire VHS box sets on astronomy and mathematics. While he loved discussing and teaching those who wanted to listen about the theory of relativity or quantum physics, his true passion lay in conversing about fried chicken. He could spend hours talking about food in general, or specifically, his two favorite ingredients: butter and garlic salt. His culinary skills are legendary, and there aren't many people who haven't enjoyed his famous wings, hand-cut fries, or crab imperial.

At his home, there was always a revolving door of his daughters' friends, that he would happily feed. Even as his daughters moved away, their friends would still come by for wing parties or just a simple, yet delicious fried egg sandwich.

A voracious reader, John was rarely without a book in hand, his nights often accompanied by the resonating tunes of Concert Sinatra on vinyl. While an Orioles, Ravens, and more recently Chiefs fan, he enjoyed watching sports and always had a soft spot for the underdog. Many cherished memories were made during family trips to Ocean City, Maryland, where John reveled in riding waves, picking crabs, and indulging in boardwalk classics like Thrasher's Fries, Fisher's Popcorn, and Dumser's Ice Cream.

John is survived by his adoring daughters and biggest fans, Lacey Bowen (Mitch) and Molly McCourt (Mark). His sphere of influence extended to his devoted goddaughter, Prang Pantusart (Travis), his brother and best friend, David McCourt (Joan), and his younger sisters Carolyn Falor (Kirk) and Patty McCourt. Additionally, he leaves behind his namesake nephew, John R. McCourt and niece, Megan Irwin (Zach), along with countless "adopted" daughters. He was also an amazing father-in-law, great-uncle, nephew, cousin, and dear friend to many.

In honor of John's memory, in lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to a cause dear to your heart.

A celebration of John's life will take place in Columbia, Maryland in the summer of 2024. The family looks forward to coming together to reminisce and celebrate the enduring legacy of a man who touched the hearts of many.