Terence H. Cloherty

Terence Henry Cloherty formerly of Forest Park IL., passed away on June 25th, 2024.

Terence was a devoted husband to his wife Maire (Maura) Cloherty (Née Maher) for 63 years. He is survived by his adoring sister Collette Dowley (Noel, deceased); his beloved sons Colin (Nadine), Terry (Kathy), Albert (Colleen), and Kevin (Liz); and his grandchildren, Sean, Maeve, Aidan, Connor, Shane, Grace, Ryan and Kyle. Terence was a cherished Uncle, Godfather, and friend to many.

He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Peggy Cloherty;  his loving sister Maura Tierney (Padraig); his caring brothers in-law Kevin Maher (Molly) and John Maher (Eileen) and his sister in-laws, Catriona Maher, and Sheila Mortell (Tom).

Terence was born and bred in Ireland. He spent his childhood and teen years in Galway where he played rugby on the Corinthians Rugby Club and was a member of the Corrib Rowing Club.  He later went to Dublin to work and go to Dublin University.  At Dublin University he joined the rowing team as a coxswain. His job was ordering all the rowers around as he sat at the head of the boat. A perfectly suited position for Terence. After graduating from university Terence worked at Cleary's Department store in Dublin where he met the love of his life and future wife, Maire. Once they were married, they voyaged to South Africa. Terence worked as a surveyor’s assistant in the diamond mines for four years. While there they had Colin, then Terry. They then immigrated to Chicago to be close to Maura's sister, Sheila and her husband Tom and their family, where they raised their families together. Once in Chicago Maire and Terence welcomed their third and fourth sons, Albert and Kevin.

Terence worked his way up the corporate retail ladder. Working at Wieboldt’s, Goldblatt’s, Zayres and Goldblatt’s again as store manager and district manager role throughout his career.

Terence was an avid sailor and as well as having coached The West Side Condors a Chicagoland rugby team for some time.  He was a great competitor and passed this along to his sons.  He also enjoyed playing racquetball weekly with his sons and friends and would revel in the competition and sometimes may even hit someone in the back and would say with a big grin “Did you get in my way”?   His love of the outdoors led him and Maire to spend decades enjoying and entertaining family and friends at their place in Woodhaven Lakes. Terence swam, sailed, fished, golfed, played tennis and was one of the first pickleballers. He and Maire would also zoom around on their motor scooter throughout the grounds just like they did back in Ireland. 

He was the life of the party and knew how to spin a yarn. A terrific dancer and had a smile a mile long. Amongst his sons' friends he was respected, loved and a little feared for the antics his sons put him through.

For the last 20 years of their life together he was the main caretaker of Maire. He always wanted the best for his family as well as their extended family of nieces, nephews and friends.  After Maire passed, he started to succumbed to dementia and deteriorated quickly. He held on for over two years, but sadly his time had come.

Terence was generous to all he met a friend that could be counted on for anything, he was loved by all and will be missed dearly.

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