In Memory of

John

Halligan

Obituary for John Halligan

John HalliganJohn Halligan, known and admired throughout the professional hockey community for his lifelong work as a leading publicist for the game, passed away on January 20, 2010, at his home in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. He was 68 years old.
During a 24-year tenure with the New York Rangers that began in 1963, Halligan served as Director of Public Relations, Business Manager and then Vice President of Communications. He played a major role in lifting the Rangers profile in the New York metropolitan area and making them a popular sporting attraction.
He also became as closely identified with the club as any player or coach by his colleagues in the business for his knowledge of the game and his always congenial and cheerful demeanor.
He brought those same qualities to the job when he moved to the National Hockey League, where he worked for another 20 years until he retired in 2006. As Director of Communications for N.H.L. Anniversaries, he helped plan and execute the league’s 75th anniversary celebrations in 1991 and the 100th anniversary of the Stanley Cup in 1993. He also served as Director of Communications and Special Projects for the N.H.L, based in its New York offices.
In 2007, following his retirement, he was saluted for his lifetime of service by being presented with a major hockey honor, the Lester Patrick Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to hockey in the United States.
Halligan earned numerous professional and civic honors, including awards from the Public Relations Society of America, the City of New York, the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and the Metropolitan New York Hockey Writers Association. He also served on the selection committee of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
The author of countless articles and stories on the sport and the Rangers, Halligan was also the author of four books on hockey, including “New York Rangers: Seventy-Five Years," "The New York Rangers", "The Game of My Life: New York Rangers" and most recently "100 Ranger Greats: Superstars, Unsung Heroes and Colorful Characters."
He was also a 30 year member of the High Mountain Golf Club and Vice President of the Golf Committee.
John is survived by his wife of 41 years, Janet.
He is also survived by his loving nephew Rodney Fischetti and niece Marilyn Truehart
Funeral Services Saturday 9:30 AM at Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home, 530 High Mountain Road, Franklin Lakes followed by a 10:00 AM Mass at Most Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church. Interment Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes. The family will receive family and friends Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in John’s memory to the Fordham University Alumni Fund, Fordham University Development Office, 888 7th Ave, 7th Floor, NY, NY 10019, The Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, 2 Shelter Lane, Oakland, NJ 07436, or to The Randolph Animal Pound, Township of Randolph, 502 Millbrook Ave, Randolph, NJ 07869