John Edsall Johnson

John (Jack) Edsall Johnson, Sr., passed away peacefully on August 8 in Lincroft, NJ, surrounded by his loving family. He fought a long and courageous battle over the past 3 years recovering from a stroke and other ailments.

Jack was born as the older of two children to Joan (Holzfuss) and Joel Munson Johnson, Sr., in Jersey City, NJ, on July 5, 1928. He grew up in Bayonne, NJ, summering at the NJ Shore before graduating from Bayonne High School where he was a prominent multi-sport athlete. He attended Stevens Institute of Technology before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1949. He continued his athletic career at West Point and ultimately earned recognition as a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 First Team All America lacrosse player and named the Defensive Player of the Year. He still holds West Point Lacrosse’s season record for goalie save percentage (75.4%). Jack graduated from West Point with a degree in Engineering. Upon graduation, Jack was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force and proceeded to pilot training at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona. He married Dorothy (Dot) Nelson at West Point in June 1953, shortly after his graduation.

Jack served as an Air Force fighter pilot around the country and Europe, achieving the rank of captain, before he was involved in an accident during a training exercise that prematurely ended his career. After a long recovery, he was medically retired in 1957. The couple settled in New Jersey and Jack moved into a career in the private sector, ultimately retiring as an executive with Lockheed Martin. Jack and Dot raised their three sons, John E., Jr. (J.E.), Joel, and Robert (Bob). They resided in Little Silver, NJ, for approximately 30 years, before retiring to Naples, FL, in 2005. Jack loved the NJ Shore and was an active member of the Monmouth Beach Bath & Tennis Club and a 40+ year member of the Christian Brothers Academy Fathers’ Club. Dot passed away in 2009 and shortly after Jack moved back to Lincroft, NJ, to be close to his sons.

Jack is survived by his three sons (and spouses); J.E. of Cape May, NJ, and Deerfield Beach, FL, Joel (Melanie) of Burke, VA, and Bob (Tara) of Little Silver, NJ, 7 grandchildren, and his brother (and sister-in-law), Joel M. Johnson, Jr. (Christine), of Pinehurst, NC.

A memorial service will be held in Monmouth County, NJ, on a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to a charity of your choice.

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