Joseph E. McGettigan III

Joseph E. McGettigan III, 76, of Media, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2025. He is survived by his beloved wife, Gay Warren.

Joe devoted his life to the law and to the pursuit of justice. Over a long and respected career, he served as First Assistant District Attorney in Delaware County and Philadelphia, Chief Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania, and Assistant United States Attorney in Philadelphia. He became widely known for prosecuting the cases of John du Pont and Jerry Sandusky, handling each with the steadiness, preparation, and conviction that defined his career. In recent years, he practiced with McAndrews, Mehalick, Connolly, Hulse and Ryan, P.C., focusing on Title IX and abuse matters.

A summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Temple University and graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, Joe began his career in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. His work also took him beyond the courtroom — assisting in efforts to rebuild Iraq’s criminal justice system, consulting with Vance International in Washington, D.C., and serving in Los Angeles as a legal consultant on the television series Philly.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Joe will be remembered for his quick wit, sharp sense of humor, and gift for storytelling. He loved reading, treasured lively conversation, and maintained a wide circle of loyal, lifelong friends and colleagues. A passionate basketball player, he competed locally and even abroad while teaching English in Europe. Above all, he was deeply devoted to his family and was well loved in return.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his mother, Ruth L. McGettigan (née Gutbrod); his siblings Kathleen, Mary (Dr. Larry Caputo), Jeanne (Balbino Uriarte), Michael (Kathleen Krattenmaker), Patricia (Mike Postil), and Susan; his brother-in-law Michael (Christine) Warren; and his niece, Louisa and nephews, Martin, Samuel and Andrew. He was predeceased by his sister, Elizabeth, and his father, Joseph E. McGettigan Jr.

Family and friends will be received on Saturday, March 7th, 2026 from 10- 10:45am in St. Francis de Sales Church, 4625 Springfield Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19143. Funeral mass will be celebrated in church at 11:00am. Burial is private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Tunnel to Towers (T2T) at https://t2t.org/