Jack Cantalupo

Beloved father, husband, and lifelong teacher, Jack Cantalupo, passed away peacefully at the age of 93 in Central Florida in late October 2023.
Born to John and Carmela (Vincelli) on East Kinney Street in Newark, New Jersey, Jack moved with his family to New Brunswick, New Jersey during the war years. While attending New Brunswick High School he took advantage of the lack of a drinking age in those days to indulge his love of opera and to frequent New York City's 52nd St. jazz clubs, where he loved to listen to bebop stars like Charley Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. He pitched a shutout on the school's baseball team, a team that would go on to win the NJ State Championship the year Jack graduated (1948).
Upon enlisting in the USAF, Jack was sent to the Air Force Chinese Language Training Center at Yale University, a life changing event. Having learned Mandarin Chinese, Jack served his country as an Air Force Intelligence Liaison while stationed in Taiwan and the Philippines, after which Jack returned to New Jersey and attended Seton Hall University on the GI Bill.
While earning his degree in education, Jack continued his Chinese language studies at Seton Hall, and his abiding interest and curiosity in China, its language and culture, was rewarded a hundredfold when he met the love of his life and future wife of 62 years Loretta (Chi), an R.N. born in China whose family was friends with Jack's Chinese professor.
For nearly 30 years, Jack taught American History at Pemberton Twp. High School, where his strong belief in the power of cross-cultural exchange and championing of social justice had a profound effect. A lifelong admirer of great American bass-baritone, Paul Robeson, as well as other and civil rights activists of the post-WWII period, he developed and taught Black Studies at Pemberton. Jack also started the school's Chinese Club, and at home in Marlton, New Jersey, he was instrumental in the establishment of Italian language courses at Cherokee High School.
After retirement, Jack and Loretta moved to New Smyrna Beach, Florida. For the better part of 30 years, they traveled the world together (including to Jack's ancestral home in Italy, Romagnano al Monte, and many trips to Taiwan and China), walked the beach together, attended concerts in Deland and Daytona together, and danced to Ernie-who reminded Jack of the great Filipino musicians he had listened to in his youth-at the Elks together. Jack bowled with his sister Mary Jane (Meseroll)'s Hidden Pines team at Smyrna Lanes and any score under 200 would have him tinkering with his approach and follow through.
Jack is survived by his wife Loretta, son David (Fu Jia), daughter Nancy (Joshua Michney), grandson Dante Cantalupo, and cousin Joseph Cantlupe.
A private memorial service celebrating his life will be held towards the end of the year during the Christmas holidays. Contributions in his name can be made to the American Civil Liberties Union and the peace organization, American Friends Service Committee.