John S. Gaughan December 26, 1932 - February 25, 2014

John S. Gaughan, 81, of Newport Beach, California passed away on February 25, 2014, after a long illness.

John was born December 26, 1932, to first generation Irish immigrants James and Margaret Gaughan. He attended St. Vincent’s school, DePaul Academy and DePaul University all within blocks of his childhood home. After serving his country in the US Army, John earned his degree from DePaul University College of Law in 1962 and worked for the Illinois State Department of Revenue. In 1959, he married Barbara Jansen and settled in Chicago where they had three sons.

The family moved to Yorba Linda, CA in 1968. John worked as a city prosecutor then established a private practice specializing in Civil Litigation. In 1973, the family settled in Newport Beach. Over his 44 years of practice John loved the law and shared his vast knowledge and expertise with whomever needed it, continuing to work up to the very day he took ill in July 2013. He will always be remembered for his quick wit, sharp sense of humor and steal trap mind. He redefined the Irish gift of gab, frequently holding court to an entire room with colorful stories.

John is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons, Brian, Kevin and Dennis; daughter-in-laws, Laura and Liana; seven grandchildren, Connor, Kylie, Keaton, Devin, Aidan, Brianna and Rylie, and his brother, the Honorable Judge Vincent Gaughan of Chicago.

Services will be held at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Newport Beach on Friday, March 7, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. For full obituary and directions, please visit www.LocalTributes.com

Brown Colonial Mortuary.