JOHN M. MIRKIL
JOHN M. MIRKIL of Bryn Mawr, formerly of Villanova, a two war veteran and retired real estate broker, died on January 12, 2013.
Mr. Mirkil was originally a resident of West Chester and attended the William Penn Charter School and St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I. He left school to enlist in the Marine Corps during World War II and served two tours.
After the war Mr. Mirkil completed his secondary school education at the Hotchkiss School (1944) in Lakeville, CT and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1950. He was an active member of Delta Psi fraternity and St. Anthony Hall.
Mr. Mirkil returned to active duty in the Korean War. He was awarded the Naval Commendation Medal with Valor for exemplary service on the Intelligence Staff of a Marine Aircraft Group flying F4U Corsairs. He retired from the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Captain in 1953.
Beginning in 1947, Mr. Mirkil devoted his entire career to the commercial real estate profession and became sole proprietor of Mirkil & Co. He served as President of the Philadelphia Board of Realtors, President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors and National Director of the Society of Industrial Realtors. Mr. Mirkil remained an active broker until retiring in 2008.
Mr. Mirkil was an avid squash, tennis and court tennis player and won the 1981 U. S. Senior Doubles Court Tennis Championship with longtime friend, Bill Vogt in Newport. He was a member of the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, Merion Cricket Club and Gulph Mills Golf Club.
He is predeceased by his former wife, Louise Unander-Scharin, and brother, William I. Mirkil, Jr. He is survived by his stepsister, Ruth T. (Henry) Hallowell, his son, Jay R. Mirkil, his daughter Jean “Nini” M. (Jeffrey) Sakaguchi, and grandchildren Elisa Mirkil, Jack Mirkil and Cooper Sakaguchi.
A Graveside Service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 22 at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester.
