89, Peachtree City resident
John E. O’Kane, born September 7, 1927, passed away on March 9, 2017 at age 89, in Peachtree City, Georgia.
The Funeral Mass was offered at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Harrison, New Jersey, on Saturday, March 18, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Peachtree City and the A.C.L.U.
John E. O’Kane was pre-deceased by his wife, Sally C. O’Kane (nee’ Maxwell) and is survived by his children, former Congresswoman Ellen O’Kane Tauscher of Washington, D.C. and San Francisco; Katherine Keszkowski (Edward) of South Orange, New Jersey; Sally Bender (Tom) of Peachtree City, Georgia; Jack O’Kane (Clare) of Lincroft, New Jersey. He is also survived by his nine grandchildren (whom he taught to fish); Kara Romanski (David); Michael Keszkowski (Rebecca); Lt. Conor Bender, USMC; Katherine Tauscher; and Caitlin, Ross, Joseph, Molly and Aidan O’Kane; and five great-grandchildren, (who called him “Old Pop”), Olivia and William Keszkowski, and Henry, Karoline and Charlotte Romanski. John was second son of Belfast natives Edward and Marie O’Kane, and brother of the late, Edward O’Kane. John loved to return to Ireland, a place he called “The Promised Land.” He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Joan Roszkowski; Helen (John) State; Sue Maxwell; and brothers-in-law, Robert (Kathy) and Michael Maxwell, and many nieces and nephews.
John was raised on Second Street in East Newark during the Great Depression. He played stickball in the street with his brother and friends, roasted potatoes over a fire in an empty lot, drove cross-country with his father to Yellowstone Park in 1939, and watched Frank Sinatra sing on the stage at the Mosque Theater in Newark. John attended Holy Cross School and Harrison High School. Upon graduation in June 1945, John enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the USS Estes, Flag Ship for Naval Forces Western Pacific, as a Radar Operator. From 1945-48, John sailed the post-war Pacific and was on board the Estes in China for an on-board visit by Madame Chiang and Chiang Kai-Shek. After marrying Sally in November 1950, John was called back to the Navy in January 1951 for the Korean conflict, where he served in the Atlantic Fleet on the USS Kula Gulf. When John returned home from the Navy in 1952, he resumed his career with the Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P), which began when he was 9 years old, delivering groceries from the A&P on John Street in East Newark. John worked in management in the food industry, working for both A&P and Shop Rite, until his retirement. Upon retirement, John and Sally lived in Toms River, New Jersey, before moving to Peachtree City, Georgia.
Throughout his life, John was a dedicated and active community supporter. A proud, life-long Democrat, John was a member of the East Newark Borough Council during the 1960’s, was a member of the Finance Committee, led the Recreation Committee, establishing swimming lessons for East Newark youth at the RCA pool in Harrison, and brought Santa Claus to town for Christmas parties at St. Anthony school hall.
On November 6, 1960, he was on the bandstand when JFK campaigned for President in Jersey City, and went on to be called “Dad” by President Bill Clinton when flying on Air Force One with his daughter, Ellen. John also served as a volunteer East Newark Fireman, serving as Chief, and was honored as East Newark Fire Department Irishman of the year in 1983; served Holy Cross Church, Harrison, as a Liturgical Reader; was a member of the Holy Name Society; a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus; and was a finance volunteer at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Peachtree City, Georgia.
We believe John is now with Sally, and all those he loved that have passed before him. We say for the last time, “Top o’ the Morning to you, John”, and he will reply, “And the Rest of the Day to You.” May God hold him in the Palm of His Hand.
