Joseph McGettigan

 Joseph McGettigan, Jr. was born on March 18th, 1948. He passed peacefully on February 11th, 2025. Joe was born and raised in Belmont Hills, Pennsylvania. Joe is survived by his two children Beth and Patrick. He is preceded in death by his parents Mary and Haas McGettigan, and his wife of 52 years, Sandra “Sandy” McGettigan.

Joe McGettigan's career was a lifelong love of trains and the systems that control them, starting at the Pennslyvania Railroad (PRR) and continuing for more than forty years though the PRR's consolidation with the NY Central Railroad to become Penn Central, and then later to become Conrail. Joe started as a young technician on counting machines, early databases, and other 1960s telecommunications technology and climbed the career ladder quickly, to retire early in 1998 as the Director of Planning and Control Information Systems for Conrail during the early discussions to split it up between the Norfolk Southern Raiload and The CSX Railroad. 

Joe and Sandy spent their retirement years visiting friends and family. They enjoyed escaping the winter for the warmth of Naples, Florida for many years. The beach was their happy place, under a palm tree with a drink in their hands, while listening to the waves crash.

Joe’s love and generosity will continue to carry on through his legacy. He and Sandy will be deeply missed and forever remembered.