A memorial service was held Feb. 16 at Orender Family Home for Funerals, Manasquan, for John C. ‘Jack’ Gillespie Jr., of Palm Bay, Fla. He passed away at home on Feb. 3. He was born in the Hell’s Kitchen section of New York City and later moved to Jersey City. He was a graduate of Dickinson High School in Jersey City, and served in the United States Navy as a Seabee from 1944 to 1951 onboard the U.S.S. Valley Forge, the U.S.S. Bairoko and the U.S.S. Juneau. He was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War.
In 1954, he joined the Jersey City Police Department and worked in the Mounted and Motorcycle Unit (M & M) for many years. After Jersey City disbanded the horses, he was assigned to the motorcycle squad, and later to the Flying Squad, the SPB and in 1981, he retired as a Sergeant from the Medical Bureau and moved to Spring Lake Hts. For many years, he was a member of Paulus Hook Knights of Columbus in Jersey City, the St. Aloysius Holy Name Society and was a charter member of the Jersey City Police Emerald Society. He was also a member of Manasquan VFW Post 1838 and Manasquan Elks Lodge 2534. John was predeceased by his wife of 57 years Gloria, by a brother Arthur and a sister Jeanne. He is survived by his sons, Mark and his wife Karen of Lakewood, John and his wife Mindy of Las Vegas, NV, Brian and his wife Michelle of Brielle, and his daughter, Ellen and her husband Joe Maher of Palm Bay, FL. He is also survived by his brother Pete Gillespie of Lake Hiawatha; grandchildren Kimberly, Abigail and Brendan, and also Amanda and Marissa, and many nieces and nephews. Services arranged by the Orender Family Home for Funerals, Manasquan.