Obituary of John J. McKenna

John J. “Jack” McKenna of Freehold, NJ and Flagler Beach, FL passed away on November 30, 2017 at the age of 79. He is survived by his beloved wife Madeline (nee O’Meara) to whom he was married for 51 Years. Jack was the devoted father of Kevin, Brian, John and his wife, Wendy, and Jim and his wife, Marlene. He was the very loving grandfather of six grandchildren, Brian, Christian, Sean, Jack, Autumn and April. Jack was the caring brother of Frank, Mary, Theresa, Kathleen, Bill and Joseph.

He was born on December 5, 1937 and raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn where he attended OLPH Catholic Grammar School and Fort Hamilton High School. In 1957, at age nineteen, Jack joined the US Marine Corps and six months later found himself with the 6th fleet, 8th Marines landing on the shores of Lebanon, to protect the country from being overthrown. On his return to the States, he won a spot on the Marine Corps basketball team at Camp Lejeune, NC. Upon his discharge the following year he was awarded a basketball scholarship to St. John’s University, playing for the famous coach, Lou Carnesecca.

Most of Jack’s business career involved the sale of consumer products for large companies. His last position was as Assistant Director for the Department of Consumer Affairs of Monmouth County, serving as a watchdog for the community. Jack was very active in local affairs and served three terms as Mayor, two terms as Deputy Mayor and one term as Police Commissioner of the Township of Manalapan.

A Memorial Gathering will be held Monday, December 11, 2017 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 11:00 AM Memorial Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road Freehold Township on Tuesday, December 12, 2017.  Interment will follow in Brigadier General Wm. C. Doyle NJ Veterans Cemetery, 350 Province Line Road, Arneytown.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Boulevard, Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057 or the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, Post Office Box 89367, Tampa, FL 33689.  For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.