Our Story

Our father was larger than life in the best way.

He was a caring father, a loyal friend, and someone who made the people around him feel loved and welcomed.

He loved his family deeply and created many happy memories. Mornings before school often meant waking up to an over-the-top buffet breakfast, because according to our Dad, more was always better when it came to taking care of the people he loved. The same went for dinners out, where he was known for over-ordering just so no one went hungry.

Dad had a signature sense of style that people instantly recognized. He loved his Robert Graham button downs, especially the classic ones with detailed cuffs, and carried himself with a confidence and energy that people respected. He loved lacrosse, golf, fashion, good food, Fat Boy ice cream bars, and the Jets.

He also had a personality people never forgot. Whether it was the way he would say “How you doing?” in his exaggerated Long Island accent or the way he could fill a room with humor, our father had a gift for making life feel warmer.

Dad’s magnetic and generous personality translated into amazing coaching and mentorship abilities. In Connecticut and Florida, Dad dedicated himself to coaching youth lacrosse. He knew exactly how and when to push his players. He could be serious one minute and have the whole team laughing the next. His balance of competitiveness and fun caused us and our friends to love the game just as much as he did.

The John C. Mahon Foundation was created to honor not only the life he lived, but the values he embodied: compassion, connection, and generosity. Through supporting men’s mental health, we hope to continue his legacy by helping men feel supported, understood, and never alone.

More About John

Dad’s persistence and determination led to incredible success. Born in Port Washington, New York, John dedicated himself on the field and in the classroom to create opportunities for himself that he would not have had otherwise. His hard work paid off, as he was able to attend Chaminade High School, where he was a four-year varsity lacrosse player and captain in 1986 and ‘87. He was recruited by many prestigious universities and decided to attend the University of Pennsylvania. He continued to thrive there, including reaching the 1988 Men’s Lacrosse National Championship as captain in 1990 and 1991. After college, Dad strived to achieve in his professional career and create economic opportunities that he did not have growing up. He succeeded in this as well, making a name for himself on Wall Street at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. From the outside looking in, our father’s life seemed perfect.

Behind the achievements and successes, our father struggled with his mental health. His parents, like so many others from previous generations, engrained the idea that men should not express their emotions. As he grew older, a lifetime of unmet mental health needs including childhood trauma and substance abuse issues continued to worsen. Unfortunately, Dad never fully embraced the fact that men should not suffer in silence. Reaching out for help, especially as a man in our society, takes incredible courage.

In honor of the 10th anniversary of our father’s passing, this foundation in his name is meant to encourage boys and men to seek help. Everyone, including the most successful, can and do struggle with mental health issues. Today, we live in an age where the mental health field is exponentially growing. It should be easier than ever to seek help, yet the notion that men should deal with their problems alone still exists. We hope this foundation helps eliminate the stigma surrounding men seeking help and encourages the development of emotionally heard and secure men in our community.