John L Celani

John L. Celani, 89, a retired public school educator, was an outstanding mathematics teacher and school administrator. Earning his B.S. from California State University of Pennsylvania in 1958, he began his teaching career in western Pennsylvania as a mathematics teacher at West Jefferson Hills school district. While at college and for two years beyond, John was a member of an a cappella singing quartet, the Varsity Four, who patterned its modern harmonies similar to the Four Freshman. He came to New Jersey in 1960, as a secondary mathematics teacher in the Willingboro, NJ school district. He received his M.A. in Mathematics Education from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, in 1962. John attended Glassboro State College (presently Rowan University) and earned his administrative degree in 1972. He was named Willingboro's high school math department chairman in 1965 and was the principal of the adult evening high school for 3 years prior to assuming, in 1975, the position of Director of Continuing Education from which he retired in 1992.
John was active as a community leader and volunteer. In 1982, he founded the Literacy Volunteers of Burlington County, and served on its Board of Directors for 20 years. The program continues to successfully function with offices in Willingboro. John was invited to join the Willingboro Rotary Club in 1975, and was an active member and past president. For many years, John was chairperson of three Rotary committees, including the Scholarship Committee, Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) program, and the Sunshine Committee. He had been the director of the Rotary Four Way Test project in the Willingboro Schools for two years and for many years was the club's Vocational Service Director. He served on Rotary District 7500's Ambassador Scholarship committee and as the editor of the Rotary Club's weekly newsletter. John also spent a year volunteering for Habitat for Humanity assisting with the renovation of a home in Burlington City.
John joined the Pine Barons Barbershop Chorus in 1993, where he became assistant director, show ticket chairman, gift card coordinator, treasurer, and a two time president of the chorus. He sang the lead part in the "Titanium" barbershop quartet (previously "The Schoolhouse Four") for over 27 years. In 2011, he joined "4 Ever Young" as their bass singer, and later joined the quartets "Probable Cause" and "The Roadies", the latter singing John's Barbershop arrangements to non-typical Barbershop songs. John also played trumpet in the Moorestown Community Band from 1992 to 2003. He supported and was a member of the Perkins Art Center in Moorestown, Save the Environment of Moorestown (STEM), The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, The Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts, Phi Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity, and Rutgers University and California State University of Pennsylvania alumni associations. In addition to singing and playing the trumpet, John enjoyed carpentry, writing musical arrangements in four part harmony, playing golf, and displaying his creativity in the development of greeting cards.
John lived in Moorestown, NJ with his wife, Marguerite (Seidensticker). He was the father of a son, Jonathan W. Celani (62), who resides in Weare, New Hampshire. He had three grandchildren, Alexandra Celani Campono (34) (Tony). Erik Celani (32) (Debora) and Kristen Celani (29), and three great grandchildren, Troy Celani (20 months), Ryder Campono (1 year) and Ava Celani (10 weeks).
A Visitation will be held on Saturday July 5th 2025 from 9 :00 am to 11:00 am the
Lewis Funeral Home, 78 E. Main St. Moorestown, NJ.
In Lieu of flowers Memorial contributions may be made to the Pine Barons Chorus,
Box #1310, 2270 Rt. 70 W STE 2, Cherry Hill NJ, 08002 or online at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=2W8JFDLGXP556