John Joseph Dunleavy

John Joseph Dunleavy III, 74, passed away at his home in Manhattan Beach, California on January 7, 2026. 

Born on June 10, 1951, at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, John was the son of the late John Dunleavy Jr. and Mary (Dugan) Dunleavy. He grew up on Long Island, New York, in Westbury and Carle Place, attending St. Brigid’s School and St. Mary’s High School. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. John took a job with Frank Black Incorporated of Blacksburg, Virginia and later returned to Notre Dame to complete his MBA in 1977. 

At that time, he met Sandra Martin, the woman who would become his wife of the next forty-six years. Sandy and John were married at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame on May 21, 1979, the day after their graduation. They soon moved to St. Louis, where Mary was born on June 9, 1980, the day before John’s 29th birthday. John attended SLU Law School graduating in 1983. The family then moved to Northern Virginia where Caitlin was born in 1985. 

John shared in a rich family life with Sandy and his girls, Mary and Caitlin, in their home in Clifton, Virginia. They were dedicated parishioners at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton. They loved their Golden Retrievers, Rockne and then Leahy. John appreciated the history and beauty of Virginia and the family traveled to various Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields. John and Sandy loved sailing through the Caribbean during their younger years, an experience that brought them many stories of adventure. The family took regular vacations together to Charleston, South Carolina, and the Isle of Palms. 

Professionally, John built a distinguished career in the construction industry. He served as Executive Vice President for Pierce Associates, Inc. of Alexandria, Virginia, where he was known for his leadership, expertise, relentless negotiating tactics, and dedication. 

In 2015, Sandy and John moved to Manhattan Beach, CA to be closer to their grandchildren. John quickly became integrated into the Catholic community at American Martyrs Church. He sponsored multiple candidates in the OCIA program and assisted the parish with managing major construction projects. 

John’s life was anchored around his deep Catholic faith. He had a special devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary as well as Saint Joseph. Despite seemingly endless major health challenges in the last decade of his life, he faced the day with grit, determination, an Irish sense of optimism, and Christian courage with Sandy ever by his side. 

John is lovingly remembered by his wife Sandy, his daughters Mary Hannon and Caitlin Schriefer, son-in laws Michael Hannon and Adrien Schriefer, his grandchildren Marty and Jack Hannon and Cecilia and George Schriefer, his sister Kathleen Dunleavy Lee, brother Dennis Dunleavy, brother-in-law Michael Lee, and niece Fiona Lee.

May John’s memory bring comfort to those who knew him and serve as a testament to a life lived with purpose, faith, and devotion. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on March 7, 2026, at 10:00 AM at American Martyrs Catholic Church 700 15th Street, Manhattan Beach, CA. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making charitable donations to two organizations that John was an ardent supporter of: 

 

• Holy Cross Family Ministries 

Holy Cross Family Ministries is sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross with the global mission of nurturing family prayer, especially the Rosary. 

• One World Surgery · In Memory of John Dunleavy 

One World Surgery’s mission is to ignite the spirit of service and transform lives by providing access to high-quality surgical care to those most in need in Honduras and the Dominican Republic.