[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17461]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING RETIRED JUDGE JOHN McCANN, 2015 WESTBOROUGH GOOD SCOUT HONOREE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 4, 2015

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor retired Judge John 
S. McCann, who will be recognized at the 2015 Westborough Good Scout 
Award Dinner held by the Knox Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of 
America in Westborough, Massachusetts.
  At the heart of the Scout Oath that Boy Scouts take is the pledge to 
`help other people at all times.' Throughout his career, Judge McCann 
has been a shining example of this commitment to always serving others.
  A resident of Westborough, Judge McCann is a graduate of the College 
of the Holy Cross in Worcester and the University of Vanderbilt School 
of Law in Tennessee. He and his wife Suzanne are active members of St. 
Luke the Evangelist Parish in Westborough, were foster parents for five 
years, and have three children, Sean, Gaylen and Aidan.
  Judge McCann knew from an early age that he wanted to pursue a career 
in law. His first grammar school composition as a third-grader at the 
Blessed Sacrament School on Pleasant Street was titled, ``Why I Want to 
Become a Lawyer.''
  Following law school, Judge McCann practiced law in California, 
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine. Judge McCann returned to 
Massachusetts in 1970 and has since resided in Westborough. Before he 
became a judge, he maintained law offices in Westborough and Worcester.
  It wasn't until 1993 that he aspired to become a judge, when fellow 
members of the Worcester County Bar Association encouraged him to apply 
for the Westborough District Court judgeship. He was appointed to the 
post by Gov. William F. Weld, and in 2000 was nominated by Gov. A. Paul 
Cellucci to the Superior Court bench. He then served as a Recall Judge 
for four years; and retired again in 2014.
  Judge McCann has been an active member of our community through his 
work with Westborough Community Fund, Chamber of Commerce, Capital 
Expenditures Committee, Armstrong Jr. High Parent Association; 
Westborough Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, and Lawyers 
Against Nuclear Arms World Jurist Association. He was a member and 
officer of the Worcester Bar Association, Worcester Bar Advocates, 
Worcester Bar Foundation, and Legal Assistance Corporation.
  Judge McCann is also an avid fly fisherman and has said that in 
retirement, he aims ``to find a lot of rivers'' and spend quality time 
with his grandchildren, Conor and Mairead McCann.
  After a long and illustrious career, dedicated to helping others and 
upholding the law, I cannot think of a better way for him to spend his 
second retirement. I am grateful to Judge McCann for all that he has 
done for Massachusetts families and communities.

                          ____________________