Obituary of John Thomas Tierney, III

TIERNEY
JOHN “JACK” T. III, Esq.

John T. Tierney III, age 75, passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at Jefferson Hospital in Pittsburgh after extended illnesses. He had most recently been a resident of The Gardens of Lincoln Court in North Versailles, previously residing at Weinberg Terrace in Squirrel Hill. He was born in Pittsburgh on October 24, 1941, the son of John T. Tierney, Jr. and Marie Kaye Tierney. He was a graduate of Culver Military Academy (’59), Stanford University (Economics ‘63), and Georgetown University (Juris Doctor ‘68). He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army, Armored Division (Germany) from 1963-65. As a professional attorney, “Jack” was a member of both the Allgheny Bar Association and the Arizona Bar. He offered expertise as a trial attorney in the areas of personal injury, Antitrust, Securities, ERISA, and R.I.C.O litigation. He began his legal career in Pittsburgh with the law firm of Reed, Smith, Shaw, and McClay (’68-’80). He continued his profession in Phoenix, Arizona with the firm of Mohr, Hackett, Pederson, and Blakely (’80-’81) before progressing to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office as Assistant Attorney General (’81-’82). He returned to Pittsburgh as an attorney with the firm Tarasi, Tighe, Tierney, and Johnson (’82-’87) before concluding his career with the firm Goldberg, Persky, Jennings, and White (’91-’14). As a member of this firm, Jack participated in the initiation of legal actions representing former NFL players who had been impacted by the degenerative brain disease of Chronic-Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This litigation, combined with several other cases nationally, resulted in the class-action lawsuit recently ruled favorably for the Plaintiff’s in Federal Court. Jack’s love for horsemanship, fostered by his father’s tutelage and ownership of horses, fulfilled him throughout his youth and adult life. While at Culver Military Academy, he was a member of the Black Horse Troop, and rode throughout his education at Stanford University. During his Law School years at Georgetown University, he was a member of their Polo Team. His life-long interest continued through his professional years as he rode “Hunters,” participated in Horse Shows, Fox Hunts, and Recreational riding. He is survived by his son, John T. Tierney IV, of Pittsburgh; and his sister, Mary Kaye Combes, of Naples, Florida; and his proficient Care Manager, Jeff Weinberg. He was preceded in death by his wife, Maureen M. Tierney (’08); his daughter, Jennifer M. Tierney (’12); and his parents, John T. Tierney, Jr. (’95) and Marie Kaye Tierney (’03). Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 22, 2017, from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at McCABE BROS. FUNERAL HOME, 6214 Walnut Street, in Shadyside. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Shadyside, on the morning of Monday, October 23, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., followed by Burial in Calvary Cemetery, Hazelwood. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers, may be sent to the Culver Educational Foundation, 1300 Academy Road, Box 153, Culver, Indiana 46511.