PITTSTON — More than two dozen guests sat in the pews of the St. John the Evangelist Church Monday evening, paying tribute to a man that has, in their words, given so much to the Greater Pittston community.
John P. Cosgrove passed away at his home in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 15. He had recently celebrated his 98th birthday.
Born in Pittston, Cosgrove left Northeast Pennsylvania — and his job as a reporter — in the late 1930s in search of better employment opportunities. When he reached Washington, Cosgrove earned his first job as a reporter for the Associated Press, and later transferred to the U.S. Office of Censorship following his admission into the Navy after the attacks on Pearl Harbor.
During the memorial mass, Msgr. John Bendik presented a homily in which he spoke of Cosgrove’s many achievements, and the “absolutely inspiring” effect he had on the people he encountered during his lifetime.
An accomplished journalist by the 1940s, Cosgrove entered into the National Press Club in 1949. By 1961, he was named president of the organization, with newly-appointed President John F. Kennedy himself bearing witness to the event. He held that title throughout the rest of his life. Throughout his career, Cosgrove acquired countless photographs and reports of numerous U.S. presidents, chief justices and other political figures.
Bendik told the audience that one of his favorite traits about Cosgrove was his ability to remain unbiased and honest throughout his career.
“John fought the good fight, he finished the race,” he said. “And he kept his faith.”
Keeping his hometown ties, Cosgrove made multiple donations to various organizations within Pittston, including to the Pittston Memorial Library and the St. John the Evangelist Church. It was because of his ongoing generosity that the library was able to create a new community room in Cosgrove’s honor, now home to his personal collection of journalistic works.
“He loved Pittston very, very much,” Bendik said. “To demonstrate his love for our city, he donated his entire collection for the addition to our library.”
Barbara Quinn and Lois Ostrowski, president and member of the Pittston Memorial Library Board of Trustees, respectively, attended the memorial service and invited guests to the library for a reception following the mass. Both women said the library simply wouldn’t be where it is today without the help of Cosgrove.
“I actually met John at the library,” Ostrowski said. “John has been so supportive. It’s all thanks to him and his generosity that we were able to get (the addition) off the ground.”
The library currently has an endowment bearing Cosgrove’s name.
One of Cosgrove’s closest colleagues and friends, Michael Clark, traveled from Washington to speak about his friend.
Reminiscing about the day they met, Clark told the audience that Cosgrove was the reason he got a job in the city.
“It was the greatest experience of my life to meet him,” he said.
Remaining active with the Navy throughout his life, Cosgrove was one of the founding members of the U.S. Navy Memorial, and served on the board of trustees for more than 30 years. He also served on the staff of both Broadcasting and Television magazines, both top trade publications.
But perhaps Cosgrove’s biggest honor was one that only a few others in history have had bestowed upon them.
Shortly before his death, the board of directors of the National Press Club unveiled a special club room that beared his name. Such an honor has been awarded to only some of the top political and media members, including President Harry S. Truman and radio and television personality Edward Murrow.
Luzerne County Judge Joe Cosgrove attended the mass. He said that John has always been someone he’s admired and looked up to.
“The Cosgroves of Pittston are very proud of John,” he said. “We know he’ll never leave Pittston, even in death.”