Joseph MacNamara, contract administrator

Joseph J. MacNamara, 85, of Turnersville, a former Defense Department contract administrator in Moorestown and Camden, died of cancer Tuesday, June 17, at home.

Born in West Philadelphia, he attended West Catholic High School and transferred to a seminary of the Augustinian religious order on Staten Island, N.Y., a son, Joseph J. Jr., said.

After two years there, Mr. MacNamara worked as a radar technician on the aircraft carrier Oriskany.

From 1950 to 1960, he was a teller for First Pennsylvania Bank, and until 1963, he worked for the IRS.

Mr. MacNamara began his 30-year Defense Department career in 1963 as a contract administrator at a Center City office, his son said.

"His whole family was really devoted to public service," his son said. Mr. MacNamara's father, James, "worked for the postal service. His sister is an Immaculate Heart nun, Sister Anne Bernadette."

The Defense Department moved Mr. MacNamara from Center City to offices in Moorestown and Camden, his son said, before he retired as a supervising contract administrator in 1993.

Since 1995, Mr. MacNamara had worked at a second career, as a part-time hall monitor at Washington Township High School.

The attraction of that work, his son said, was that "all my three brothers went to school there," and their mother, Marcella, is a special education aide there.

At the high school, a moment of silence was to take place in his honor Thursday.

Joseph Bollendorf, the high school principal, said Mr. MacNamara "was beloved by our staff and our students."

"He was helpful, he was friendly, he was engaging," he said.

Besides his wife, sister, and son, Mr. MacNamara is survived by sons Shawn, Kevin, and Brian, and two grandchildren.

A visitation was set for 4 to 4:45 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at Kain-Murphy Funeral Service, 15 West End Ave., Haddonfield, before a 5 p.m. memorial service. Interment will be private.

Donations may be sent to www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Condolences may be offered to the family at http://kainmurphy.com.