John M. Sheehan

1929 - 2018

John M. Sheehan

Hazlet - Sept. 13, 1929-Nov. 29, 2018

John M. Sheehan died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 89. Known as Jack to his family and childhood friends, he was born in Newark, NJ, raised in Belleville and Spring Lake, raised his own family in Hazlet, and retired to Wall Township after the loss of his wife of 54 years, Janet (Purcell) Sheehan.

A graduate of Seton Hall Prep, he later attended Seton Hall College, the United States Military Academy at West Point, and Newark College of Engineering (now NJIT). A lifelong learner and avid reader, John published his own collected works, Manifest Destiny and Modern Politics, in 2016. He enjoyed a successful career as a Civil Engineer with Damon G. Douglas Company, where he worked alongside his good friend Ted Borri for over 40 years. Instrumental in forming a national masonry code, John was named a Fellow by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1990, and in 1994 was awarded the Bonhag Award for Engineer of the Year by the New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers.

John loved the Jersey Shore, where he met his future wife in the summer of 1946, with whom he raised a family of seven children and thirteen grandchildren, and where he was a member of Spring Lake Golf Club and a parishioner of St. Catharine Roman Catholic Church. He also loved the mountains of Colorado, where he and his family and many friends enjoyed skiing and golfing at the Sheehan vacation home at Copper Mountain.

John's deep commitment to his family, his country, and his community was evident in everything he did. His moral compass was clear and strong and his example spoke louder than words. He volunteered with the YMCA—helping to found Camp Arrowhead in Marlboro; he served as scoutmaster to Troop 29 in Newark—comprised of inner-city boys with cerebral palsy, polio, and muscular dystrophy; he also coached basketball and baseball, tutored math, and mentored many young engineers throughout his career. He maintained close friendships over many decades with childhood friends, classmates, colleagues, and neighbors.

He is predeceased by his parents Matt and Marie (Coyle) Sheehan, his infant brother Matthew, his wife Janet, his parents in-law Edward and Mary (O'Brien) Purcell, his brother-in-law Charlie Samaha, his granddaughter Melanie, and sons Dennis and Michael. Surviving him are his sister Maureen (Sheehan) Samaha, brother-in-law Edward Purcell, cousins Leo Killeen and Juliana (Fazakerly) Gilheany, sons Matthew, Terry, and Joseph, daughters Mary Anne and Kate, daughters-in-law Susan, Leslie, Sita, and Patricia, sons-in-law Randy and Dan, grandchildren Brittany, Alex, Juliana, Michael (Ellis), Alexandra, Kate, Anthony, Gina, Sarah, Justine, Maris, Maggie, Charlotte, Jonathan, Michael (Sheehan), and Stephanie, great grandsons Armani, Teddy, and Dominic, godson John Ament, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews and friends too numerous to count. He is greatly loved and missed. Visitation Friday, Dec 7, 2018 from 4-7 p.m. at Buckley Funeral Home. 509 Second Ave Asbury Park. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday Dec 8, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Catharines Church, 215 Essex Ave., Spring Lake.

In lieu of flowers: Exceptional Care for Children; AI Dupont Nemours Children's Hospital Cerebral Palsy Center; or The Michael A. Sheehan Counter-Myeloma Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

For condolences please visit www.buckleyfuneralhome.net.