Owen Roe McGovern, 93, of Elizabeth, the last surviving member of the 1947 Cavan All-Ireland Football team who played in the only All Ireland final played outside Ireland when Cavan faced Kerry in the Polo Grounds in New York passed away.

Owen Roe was the owner of the Morley & McGovern's Irish Pub, Roselle Park, the 1999 Union County St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal and The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Union County 1992 Irishman of the Year. He was known for his devotion to family and friends, as well as his consideration for others. Throughout the years, this proud and humble Irishman had assisted many Irish immigrants coming to this country. Mr. McGovern passed away on May 2, 2011. Owen Roe was the eighth of ten children born to Owen and Mary (Dolan) McGovern, in Swanlinbar, County Cavan, Ireland, in 1917. He served in the Irish Army from 1940-45 before joining the Cavan Senior Football team in '45 where he won two All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals in 1947, '48. He lined out at right half-back when Cavan won the National Football League in the 1949/50 season. Owen was a proud member of St. Mary's GAA Club in Swanlinbar. He later founded the Elizabeth Gaels Football club in Elizabeth New Jersey USA

Owen is a testament to the many Irish-American organizations in which he was a member, including Morley McGovern Association, Frank McGovern Association, the Knights of Columbus #253 - Elizabeth (4th Degree), a gold card member of the Joseph Nugent Association, and a member of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

Owen had been a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Church in Elizabeth for over 50 years. He is survived by his beloved wife, Phyllis, of 57 years; their children, Jerry and his wife, Ann, Brian and his wife, Yvonne of Cranford, Owen Jr. of Elizabeth, and Holly and her husband, Bob Fitzsimmons of Pittstown; as well as, his twelve loving grandchildren: Erin, Kerry, Colleen, Siobhan, Bobby, Nuala, Sean, Shannon, Siobhan, Brian, Aislinn, and Aileen; and older brother, Joseph, of Swanlinbar Ireland and many nieces and nephews.

Owen Roe will be sorely missed. His fun-loving and compassionate spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of those lucky enough to have known such a remarkable man.

Arrangements are by the McCracken Funeral Home, Union N.J. with visitations on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9. A Funeral Mass will be offered on 10:00 a.m. Friday at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, in Elizabeth, NJ. Interment will follow at Saint Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations are kindly requested for the Centre of Hope Hospice, 1900 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076. Tweet

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