McGREEVY, John Herbert Cecil (1913-2004)
Biography
Born on July 26th 1913 in Quebec City, John H.C. McGreevy was the son of Herbert Smith McGreevy, superintendant of the signal service of Canada, and of Hilda Bell Irvine.
McGreevy completed his primary and secondary studies at Bishop’s College School in Lennoxville (Sherbrooke). He then began an accounting apprenticeship for McDonald, Currie in Quebec City.
During World War II, he enlisted with the Royal Rifles of Canada under the rank of Lieutenant. He was captured during the battle of Hong Kong in 1941 and remained a prisoner of war until the liberation in 1945.
After the war, McGreevy went back to his accounting work at McDonald, Currie. He became a partner in the firm in 1949, which was renamed Coopers & Lybrand in 1973. He continued to work as an accountant until his retirement in 1975.
McGreevy is known for his volunteer work in many organizations linked to Quebec City’s English-speaking community, for which he was awarded the Order of Canada in 1989. He participated in both traditionally Catholic and Protestant organizations, and his volunteer involvement spanned decades. He was president, treasurer or financial advisor for the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, Quebec Garrison Club, Saint Brigid’s Home and Foundation, the Ladies’ Protestant Home and the Quebec Ladies’ Home Foundation, the Anglican Diocese of Québec, Jeffery Hale’s Hospital and Foundation, and the Citadel Foundation. He was also a commissioner for the National Battlefields Commission. He played an important role in setting up a subsidized home for the elderly, which was named McGreevy Manor in recognition of his work.
He died in Quebec on March 25th 2004.
He married Mary Gavan Gray on June 3rd 1939 in La Malbaie; she was the daughter of Joseph Archibald Gray, banker, and of Mary Katherine Duggan.
– Patrick Donovan, June 2015
Images
Bibliography
- B.C.S. Magazine, Midsummer 1931.
- B.C.S. Magazine, Midsummer 1932.
- B.C.S. Magazine, Midsummer 1942.
- BLAIR, Louisa. “Living History.” Interview with John and Mary McGreevy, unpublished document, circa 2000.
- “Celebrating 100 years of Excellence in Canada.” PwC [online]. http://www.pwc.com/ca/en/about-us/our-history/index.jhtml
- “Décès & Avis.” Le Soleil, March 30 2004, C7.
- DONOVAN, Patrick and Ashli HAYES. The Ladies Protestant Home: 150 Years of History. Quebec: Jeffery Hale Foundation, 2010.
- HANNON, Harry. « Saint Brigid’s Home Foundation: The first thirty years (1972-2002) ». Unpublished document, circa 2000.
- “In Memoriam: John H.C. McGreevy.” Society Pages, number 5, autumn 2004.
- MEREDITH, Clive. “John McGreevy named to the Order of Canada.” Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, February 1 1989, p.1
- “Personal.” Harbor Grace Standard, April 21 1906, p.6
- Registry of La Malbaie, Saint-Etienne parish, Charlevoix county. Wedding (parents): July 18 1912. Drouin Collection.
- “Social and Personal.” Montreal Gazette, June 5 1939.