Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Paul Monahan III |
| Also Known As | Jay Monahan; John Paul “Jay” Monahan |
| Date of Birth | January 9, 1956 |
| Date of Death | January 24, 1998 (age 42) |
| Cause of Death | Colorectal (colon) cancer |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Attorney; Television legal analyst |
| Education | Washington and Lee University (B.A.); Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.) |
| Spouse | Katie Couric (m. 1989–1998) |
| Children | Elinor “Ellie” Monahan (b. 1991); Caroline “Carrie” Monahan (b. 1996) |
| Parents | John Paul Monahan Jr.; Carol Mary (Tully) Monahan |
| Notable Law Firms | Williams & Connolly; Hunton & Williams (New York) |
| Years Active | 1980s–1998 |
Early Life and Education
John Paul “Jay” Monahan III was born on January 9, 1956. Those who knew him describe a keen mind that found its home in the study of law—a discipline he approached with rigor and humility. He earned his undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University, an institution known for its emphasis on honor and leadership, and then continued on to Georgetown University Law Center, where he refined the craft that would define his career.
Monahan’s trajectory through school and into the law read like a careful blueprint: study, clerkship, mentorship, practice. Each step built on the last, and each prepared him for the balance he would later strike between courtroom and camera.
Legal Career and Media Presence
Monahan completed a judicial clerkship before joining Williams & Connolly in Washington, D.C., a firm renowned for high-stakes litigation and elite advocacy. He later practiced in the New York office of Hunton & Williams, broadening his exposure to complex matters and deepening a reputation for sharp, measured counsel.
In parallel, he built a profile as a television legal analyst—most notably on NBC—translating intricate legal issues into plain language. He had a knack for clarity without condescension, a talent that made him a trusted presence during fast-moving news cycles. In a media environment often chasing heat, Monahan brought light: calm, exacting, and genuinely informative.
Marriage and Fatherhood
On June 10, 1989, Jay Monahan married journalist Katie Couric. Their partnership threaded two demanding careers through a very public era in American media, and they navigated it with a private warmth that close friends remember vividly. Their first daughter, Elinor “Ellie,” was born on July 23, 1991. Their second, Caroline “Carrie,” arrived on January 5, 1996.
Fatherhood suited Monahan. Colleagues recall the same patience and care he brought to case strategy and live analysis now aimed at bedtime stories, Saturday morning rituals, and the thousand small moments that make a young family hum.
Illness, Loss, and the Spark of Advocacy
In the late 1990s, Monahan faced colorectal cancer—a diagnosis that reshaped his final months and, afterward, catalyzed a national conversation on screening and prevention. He died on January 24, 1998, at just 42 years old. In the wake of that loss, his family helped ignite broader awareness efforts that encouraged earlier screenings and open, practical discussions about colon health. If medicine is science and law is argument, this was something else: an enduring, humanitarian project powered by love and memory.
Family Tree at a Glance
| Relation | Name | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Katie Couric | Journalist and author; married 1989 until his death in 1998 |
| Daughter | Elinor “Ellie” Monahan | Writer/producer; married; welcomed a son in 2024 |
| Daughter | Caroline “Carrie” Monahan | Graduate of Stanford; works in media/journalism |
| Father | John Paul Monahan Jr. | Deceased (2010) |
| Mother | Carol Mary (Tully) Monahan | Deceased (1999) |
| Siblings | Several (names not public) | Mentioned in contemporaneous family notices |
| Grandchild | “Jay” (nickname) | Ellie’s son, born 2024, named in his grandfather’s honor |
A Career Measured in Clarity
Monahan’s professional hallmark was translation: the ability to take an appellate argument, a regulatory tangle, or a breaking prosecution and render it lucid to people without a law degree. He did not perform for the camera so much as he served the audience. He favored proportion over spectacle, context over noise. That sensibility made his voice—both at the firms he served and in studios—trusted by colleagues and viewers alike.
The Public and the Private
Public lives often fracture under the weight of visibility, but the Monahan-Couric household found its center in the private sphere. Milestones dot the family timeline—1989, 1991, 1996, 1998—numbers that read like coordinates on a map of love and grief. After his passing, those closest to him carried forward in ways that honored who he was: thoughtful, brave, and deeply committed to others. In 2024, a new chapter opened when his first grandchild arrived and was given his name, a bridge across time built out of memory and hope.
Distinguishing the Name
Because “Jay Monahan” is also the name of the PGA Tour commissioner, confusion occasionally arises. John Paul “Jay” Monahan III—the subject here—was the attorney and television legal analyst who died in 1998. His life and work belong to a different chapter of American public life, centered on the law, media, and family.
Selected Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 9, 1956 | Birth of John Paul “Jay” Monahan III |
| 1980s | Law school graduation; clerkship; entry into private practice |
| Late 1980s | Attorney at Williams & Connolly, Washington, D.C. |
| June 10, 1989 | Marriage to Katie Couric |
| Early 1990s | Legal analyst appearances on national television |
| July 23, 1991 | Birth of daughter Elinor “Ellie” |
| Mid–late 1990s | Practice at Hunton & Williams (New York) |
| January 5, 1996 | Birth of daughter Caroline “Carrie” |
| January 24, 1998 | Death from colorectal cancer at age 42 |
| 1999–2010 | Passing of his parents (mother in 1999; father in 2010) |
| 2024 | First grandchild born and nicknamed “Jay” in his honor |
FAQ
Who was John Paul Monahan?
An American attorney and television legal analyst, John Paul “Jay” Monahan III was known for clear, insightful commentary and a respected legal practice.
How was he connected to Katie Couric?
He was married to journalist Katie Couric from 1989 until his death in 1998.
What did he do professionally?
He practiced law at top firms and appeared on national news programs as a legal analyst.
When did he die and what was the cause?
He died on January 24, 1998, at age 42, from colorectal cancer.
Did he have children?
Yes, two daughters: Elinor “Ellie” (born 1991) and Caroline “Carrie” (born 1996).
Where did he go to school?
He graduated from Washington and Lee University and Georgetown University Law Center.
Is he the same Jay Monahan as the PGA Tour commissioner?
No; they are different people who share the same name.
How is his family honoring his memory today?
Through personal remembrances, public awareness around colon health, and the naming of a grandson in his honor in 2024.
