Obituary of John J. Sharkey

John J. Sharkey West Orange Resident Newark Fire Captain John (Jack) Sharkey, 97, passed away peacefully at the home of his niece and her family on January 10, 2015. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 11:00 at Our Lady of Lourdes, 1 Eagle Rock Ave, West Orange, NJ. Arrangements are by the Dangler Funeral Home, West Orange. Jack, by his own account, learned his most treasured lessons early – from his parents, as a student at Our Lady of the Valley High School, and as a caddie at Essex County Country Club during the depression - lessons that he would apply to his life for the ensuing eight decades. He served his country in World War II as a Platoon Sergeant in the US Army, 167th Infantry Regiment, 31st Division from 1941 to 1946, where he led two machine gun and three mortar squads in the Campaign for New Guinea and the liberation of the Philippines. In 1948, he joined the Newark Fire Department and proudly spent 30 years in service to the city, the last 19 of which as a Captain, a position in which he was the consummate professional in both his leadership and his knowledge. The word most often assigned to Jack was that he a gentleman, a man of another time where respect for all, pride in work, and a belief in God were, literally, part of his every day. He was proud of his roots, his association with West Orange, and his connection to Our Lady of Lourdes. He was predeceased by his mother, Delia (1972) and father, Timothy (1970), his brothers, Stephen (1944) and Frank (2004), and his sister-in-law, Patricia (2008). He is survived by nieces and nephews, their spouses and children. He was a devoted uncle, great uncle and great-great uncle. With special recognition, he also leaves behind his two wonderful caregivers, Julie and Ruth. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to; Barnabas Health Hospice, 95 Old Shot Hills Rd., West Orange, NJ 07052 or to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1 Eagle Rock Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052.