John Joseph Mchale

John Joseph McHale, 84, of Novato, California, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2025. A dedicated San Francisco fireman for over three decades, John’s courage and compassion were hallmarks of both his profession and his personal life. Born on July 21, 1940, in San Francisco to Peter and Mary McHale, John grew into a man who loved nothing more than spending time outdoors—whether he was nurturing his prizewinning rose garden, casting a line on the lake, tinkering under the hood of his favorite car, or simply listening to the birds he so adored. He had a storyteller’s gift: his quick wit, inventive play on language, and the way he’d spin a tale kept family and friends in stitches and sometimes in awe. John was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Mary McHale, and his brother, James McHale. He leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter in the hearts of his wife Mary-Lynn Griffith; sons Timothy and Marty McHale; daughter Kelli Selmi; sisters Ann Koniaris and Maurine Kenny (Ed); brother Michael McHale (Lynn); eight grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews who will forever cherish his sly grin and made-up phrases.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Vincent’s Church in Petaluma, CA on Monday June 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., All who knew John are invited to join in sharing stories, laughter, and a toast to a life lived fearlessly and with a full heart. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the San Francisco Firefighters’ Cancer Foundation (www.sffcpf.org) or that you plant a rose in John’s memory.