Rev John Michael Tiernan SJ

Reverend John M Tiernan SJ was born on February 22, 1911 in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA . He was the second born son out of six son to John and Catherine (Slattery) Tiernan. His brother’s names are Francis Joseph, David, William Gregory, Edward and George. His brother David died at two years old from acute endocarditis which he developed three weeks after a diphtheria infection cleared up according to his death report. Rev Tiernan was four years old when David died. He had one sister named Mary. She died in 1922 at 10 months old from pneumonia.

His mother Catherine was born in Coollicknalea and she immigrated to the USA. Reverend Tiernan was my mother’s second cousin and she had the card with his photo from his funeral on her mirror in her bedroom. He was closer in age to my grandfather and he used to visit them in their home in Medford, Massachusetts. On Sunday December 11, 1960 when he was 49 years old he died from a heart attack while celebrating Mass.