John Adair Carmody III age 79 of Oak Park, IL - known affectionately to his sons as 'The Dad'; with tongue in cheek by his wife, as 'King'; on the baseball fields of Oak Park as Coach; to his friends as John. Everyone else knew to call him Mr. Carmody. Born in Oak Park, IL at West Suburban Hospital on March 8, 1946.

John was a lifelong Oak Parker, leaving only for college and his time in the Marine Corps. He grew up on the 1100 block of Clinton, the eldest of four Carmody brothers. He attended Ascension School (Class of 1960) and Fenwick High School (Class of 1964). He was an active youth, playing football, basketball and baseball. Baseball was his true passion. Catcher was his position. He played through high school and one year in college before an injury ended his baseball playing days. After graduating high school he went off to college in Rensselaer Indiana where he attended his beloved St. Joseph's College and met many of his lifelong friends. After graduating college in 1968, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, completed OCS and was commissioned to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He served in active and reserve duty and was discharged with honor, reaching the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He was a proud Marine until the day he died, often reminding us that there are no ex-Marines. Once a Marine, Always a Marine, he would say.

After his service in the Marine Corps, he returned home to Oak Park where he began his career in banking and finance. It was then that he discovered a love for the sport of Rugby, where he found his place as a Prop, the position whose primary role is to provide stability and power to the team's scrum. He played with the Chicago Lions RFC for two years before he and 5 of his mates peeled off to start their own club. Together, they became the founding members of the Chicago Griffins Rugby Football Club, which after 5 decades, still thrives as a premier Division 1 Rugby Club and holds to its founding values of growth, development and community.

It was on the side of these rugby matches that he also found his love and future wife, Noreen. After a joyful and eventful courtship, they were married in 1974. In 2024 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Along the way, the two of them raised 5 sons in the family home on Wesley Avenue. The last son, endearingly known only as Johno, was born with Down Syndrome. Johno gave the whole family, especially the dad a gift, an opportunity to learn a new way to love, support, protect, and provide. These sons grew up and made their own families, bringing 4 adored daughters-in-law into the Carmody Family and 8 grandchildren that he cherished.

As the boys reached a sporting age, John reconnected with his love for baseball, proudly taking on the role of coach. Just like his father did with him, he coached all of his sons as they played their way through each level of Oak Park Youth Baseball. When his last son graduated from OPYBS, John decided he'd stay. He felt a calling to the ball field. He believed strongly in the impact a positive playing experience could create. He also believed strongly in investing in coaches. He took special care to recruit, develop, and support young coaches - preserving the succession. When it was done, he served for more than 45 years in the various roles and ranks of the OPYBS organization, leading, mentoring, organizing, and most importantly coaching the kids.

In his life after baseball, John also seized the opportunity to join his sons as a founding member of Opportunity Knocks, a nonprofit organization that supports people with intellectual and developmental differences. John served on the board and finance committee for more than a decade. He was proud of what OK came to be and how his family helped build a more accepting community for Johno and his friends.

John Adair Carmody was a proud family man, a provider, a protector, and a supporter. He was relentlessly devoted to his family, his community, his parish, his alma mater, and his teams. He was a booster, and an avid fan of the ones he loved. Whether it was one of his sons, his grandkids, or a kid from the neighborhood, he loved you by showing up for you, wearing your team colors, sitting in the stands or standing down the line to cheer you on.

Survived in life by his wife, Noreen and sons Chuck (Cara), Phil (Lyndsay), Mike (Anna), Colin (Kristyn), Johno; his grandchildren Patrick, Maura, Maeve, Brigid, Conor, Brendan, Sullivan and Carson; brother Dan, sister in law Gail; nieces and nephews Shannon (Colin), Tara (Ben), and Peter; Preceded in Death by his parents John A Carmody Jr., Dorothy Sheahan Carmody and his brothers Tom and Gerry Carmody and sister-in-law Vivian Carmody.

A Memorial Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Ascension Catholic Church, 808 East Ave., Oak Park from 9:30 a.m. until time of the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment private. Memorial Donations appreciated to Opportunity Knocks (www.opportunityknocksnow.org) and L'Arche, Chicago (https://larchechicago.org). Arrangements entrusted to Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home. For info 708-F-U-N-E-R-A-L.