E. John Wherry Jr.

SOUTHINGTON, Conn. — E. John Wherry, Jr. died on March 21, 2010, in Southington, Conn. at the age of 68. John was a graduate of: The Delbarton School, in Morristown, N.J. in 1960; Villanova University in Villanova, Penn. in 1964 and The University of Florida School of Law in Gainesville Fla. in 1967.

He was honorably discharged from the New Jersey Army National Guard, having served from 1967 to 1973, as a Sergeant in the Military Police and received the New Jersey Governor's commendation and the good conduct medal.

John was admitted to practice law in New Jersey (1967) and Massachusetts (2001). He practiced law in Trenton, N.J., certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court and The National Board on Trial Advocacy as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney and a Certified Criminal Trial Attorney, for twenty-three years and then joined the full time faculty of Widener University School of Law, in Wilmington, Delaware. At Widener, he was the co-founder of the Intense Trial Advocacy Program which won the prestigious Emil Gumpert Award for excellence in trial advocacy education. Following that, John was the founding Dean and Professor of Law at, what is now, Barry University School of Law in Orlando, Fla. Following that, John retired to Cape Cod, Mass. where he performed pro bono legal service. He served for five years on the New Jersey District VII Ethics Committee. He was a prolific author of Law Review articles, CLE materials and scholarly legal books and articles. John was the Prosecutor in the Hightstown, New Jersey Municipal Court for eleven years.

John was born and raised in Trenton, N.J. and then lived in Yardley, Penn. for 25 years, where he raised his family, then for 12 years in South Orleans, Cape Cod, Mass.

He was a volunteer faculty member of The National Institute for Trial Advocacy for more that 25 years, teaching trial advocacy to law students and practicing lawyers through out this country and the world in such places as, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, California, Minnesota, Colorado, Florida, Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Uzbekistan, and Armenia. He was a frequent CLE lecturer in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

He was an avid collector of antique inkwells and an avid fan of The University of Florida "Fighting Gators" football team.

He was a descendant of the Skillman family who settled in the new world in 1664 and the founders of Skillman Hardware Manufacturing Company, in Trenton.

He was predeceased by his parents, E. John Wherry and Rita (Convery) Wherry, his wife of thirty-eight years, Sherlene (nee Lang) Wherry, his sister Mary Anne Villante (nee Wherry) and a dear aunt, Addie Elizabeth "Betty" Wherry.

He is survived by three children: Dr. E. John Wherry, III and his wife Susanne Wherry, Esquire, of Havertown, Penn., Christopher Lang Wherry and his wife Christina Testo-Wherry of Southington, Conn. and Patricia Wherry-Harris and her husband Sean Harris of West Hartford, Conn., four beloved grandchildren: Alana, Natalie, Alexa and Braeden, and many cousins nieces and nephews.

A memorial service and interment in the Wherry family cemetery plot in Ewing Church Cemetery in Ewing Township, New Jersey, will be private.

In his memory, donations may be made to The Wherry Trial Advocacy Endowment fund at Widener University School of Law, P.O. Box 7474, Wilmington, Delaware 19803.