John Joseph Cronin

CRONIN, JOHN JOSEPH, September 6, 2023, Age 87, Haverford, PA

John died after a short battle with lung cancer at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.  He was born on March 7, 1936 to John and Emma Cronin in Norristown, PA.  As a lifelong teacher of history, he would tell you that it was on the day that “Germany remilitarized the Rhineland.”

He is survived by Ellen, his wife of 60 years, his son, Mark and daughter, Molly Cronin Scott, and four grandchildren, Beth, Nora and Lily Scott and Willis John Cronin.

John attended Villanova University as an undergraduate and did his graduate work at Villanova and at Temple University.  John taught history in high school and also at Ocean County Community College in Toms River, NJ.

The family moved to Drexel Hill in 1969 so that John could become one of the first professors at Delaware County Community College.

He would teach there for 35 years, educating, enlightening and entertaining his students with informative and humorous lectures for which he was awarded the Gould Award for Outstanding Teaching.

He was active in Delaware County Democratic politics and enjoyed serving his community in various organizations such as the Upper Darby Home and School Association and the Fair Housing Council.

He jokingly referred to himself as a member of the “male auxiliary” of the League of Women Voters.  He helped found and served as president of the teachers’ union at DCCC and was a respected member of the Upper Darby and Delaware County Historical Societies.  He was an avid reader and fan of Villanova Basketball, the Phillies and the Eagles.

His wife, son, daughter and grand daughters were at his side for the last moments of his life.

Friends and family members are asked to donate to a charity of their choice in his memory.