N. John Lombardi

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. N. John Lombardi - husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and treasured friend. He was born at home in Jersey City, NJ on Valentine's Day 1934 to Joseph and Barbara Lombardi. His hometown would remain a defining force in his life; he told countless stories about growing up there with his three brothers, his many cousins, and both sets of immigrant grandparents.

After graduating from Ferris High School, he went on to receive a BA from Seton Hall University in 1954 and a Masters of Divinity from Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, NJ in 1960. Upon his ordination, he celebrated his first Mass at his home parish of Holy Rosary, Jersey City and then served as a parish priest at Queen of Peace in North Arlington, NJ.

In 1966, John's life changed course. Recognizing that he could help more people if he followed his passion into the field of mental health, he began studies at the University of Detroit where he graduated with a Masters in Clinical Psychology in 1969. As one of his religious mentors noted when he heard that John had left the priesthood and shifted his focus to psychology, "John, you simply changed your pulpit."

In Detroit, he married his soulmate, Sheila (née O'Mahoney). John and Sheila settled in Leonia, NJ in 1974 where they raised their three children: Elizabeth, Denise, and Aaron. During these very busy years, John worked two jobs and attended night classes at The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. In 1979, he successfully earned his doctorate.

While working in his private practice in Fort Lee, NJ, Dr. Lombardi was the Deputy Director of Mental Health for the New York City Department of Corrections, working at both Rikers Island and The Bronx House of Detention. During his tenure he was committed to the humanity of the inmates he treated. In 1994, he retired from the NYCDOC and moved to Long Branch, NJ to be near the ocean, fulfilling a lifelong dream. He continued working at his private practice until just last year, retiring fully when he was 89 years old. The number of lives he touched during his career cannot be calculated.

John was deeply committed to several charities, in particular those that focused on the less fortunate and the disenfranchised. In true John Lombardi fashion, he was acutely attuned to the humanity of those in need.

In his free time, he could often be found contentedly working in the yard and gardening, doing the New York Times Crossword Puzzle (in ink!), cheering for his New York Yankees, or enjoying nature documentaries where he never ceased to be amazed by the natural world. A true creative problem solver, John could fix just about anything and happily spent hours, as he put it, "futzing around" in his workshop, listening to Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and the rest of the great American singers.

John's legacy is one of selflessness, compassion, generosity, and hard work. The thing he would most want people to remember about him is that he cherished his family above all else. As he often said, "I am not lucky. Luck has nothing to do with it. I am blessed."

John is survived by his wife Sheila, daughter Elizabeth and her husband Bruce, daughter Denise, son Aaron and his wife Kirraley; grandchildren Elise, Jackson, and Marcus. John is also survived by his beloved brother, Floyd, and his many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, as well as his brothers, Robert and Joseph.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate John's life on Wednesday, October 9th at 10:00 AM at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Westfield, NJ (315 1st Street).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center http://www.splcenter.org or Partnership with Native Americans https://nativepartnership.org