Biography

John Edward Pendergast was born October 2, 1930, in Syracuse, New York. He received a degree from Le Moyne College in the first graduating class of 1951. Upon graduating from college, Pendergast enlisted in the United States Air Force. In 1953, he was accepted into the USAF Officers Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He retired on March 31, 1978, after a career of 27 years. During his retirement years, Pendergast discovered his love of traditional Irish music through an introduction with Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE). He received recognition with the award of the Meritorious Service Medal from CCE in 2007, the second member to receive this recognition in North America. Pendergast died on August 6, 2009, following an extended illness with colon cancer.