John F Abair Jr.

John F Abair, Jr., 'Big John', 57 of Old Bridge, New Jersey passed away on Saturday, November 8, 2025, after a courageous 21 month cancer fight. He was at home, surrounded by the love and affection of his family and friends right by his side. He was a fighter until the very end.
Born Wednesday, July 31, 1968 in Brooklyn, New York, John was the son of John F. Sr (Jack) and Letitia (Letty) Abair. John was raised in the Marine Park section of Brooklyn, a tight knit community where he would make life long friendships. John was a proud graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Elementary School and Nazareth Regional High School. John would get right to work after graduating High School and worked side by side with his Dad in demolition. John then attended Carpenter Trade school where he would learn the skills that would keep him busy until the very end. His career path changed as his goals and dreams for his family grew. He did whatever he needed to do to take care of his family. John became a proud member of Local 32BJ. His proudest career accomplishment was when he pounded the pavement of NY City for an opportunity to join Local 94 Operating Engineers. His 25 year career 'working on the chillers and cooling towers' was spent mostly at the Teleport where he made life long friends. He was a very proud Union Man!
John would meet the love of his life, Kathleen Hamill in Brooklyn and what started as a friendship grew into love. They married in 1997, and would live in Marine Park to begin building a family of their own before settling in Old Bridge at the home he would never stop working on and fixing up.
When he was not working he was very involved with his 3 children and loved nothing more than taking them to practices, coaching, and forever giving them life lessons. When his children were growing up John was active in the Sayrewoods South Little League, often lending his building expertise to projects around the fields and clubhouse. John had been a vibrant and active member of St. Ambrose Parish and was always looking to grow and learn more about his Catholic Faith. John was a proud friend of Bill W and was one of the founders of Club Serenity, a Recovery Club, located at St. Ambrose Parish. It was there that John found his true calling in service to others. John was also a member of Council 6424 St. Ambrose Knights of Columbus, as well as a member of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh, Old Bridge.
When John had sometime for himself he enjoyed (obsessed) collecting Baseball Cards and memorabilia that he displayed proudly around the home. He was huge fan of the New York Yankees, and spent these last weeks of the baseball season hoping for that one last shot at winning the whole thing.
John loved the ocean, going to the beach and fishing with his boys with or without bait. John was a helping hand to anyone who needed it. He took great pride in his home and made it a place where family and friends could gather to be together. John was an inspiration not only to his family and close friends, but also to the community in which he lived. He will be deeply missed by all those that were blessed to have him in their lives.
John was predeceased by many family members but most recently, his beloved Aunt Betty just last week.
John is survived by his beloved wife, Kathy, by his loving children, Thomas, John, and Amanda, by his loving parents, John F. Sr, and Letty, by his siblings, Susan and Janet (Lou), by his cherished grandson Bryson, by his Uncle Patrick (Georgianna), and Aunt Kathleen McGovern, by his sisters in law, Doreen McMenemy, Kim Flynn (Kevin) and Dawn (Glenn), an army of nieces and nephews, many loving cousins, and countless friends.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the WTC /EOHSI at Rutgers and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, especially Nina and Patty who were instrumental in getting John home to us on Friday. They knew how important it was for John to be at peace in his home with his family and they made that happen !
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in John's memory to https://www.clubserenityobnj.org/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5b9563f14fa51ad19037f4e0
The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Michael Hegarty & John Vincent Scalia Home For Funerals and Cremation Service, 3377 US Highway 9, Old Bridge, New Jersey.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 AM on Friday at Immaculate Conception Church located at 18 South Street Spotswood, New Jersey 08884. Friends are asked to gather directly at church.
Interment will follow at Holy Cross Burial Park, East Brunswick, NJ.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.HegartyScaliaFuneralHome.com