Obituary for John J O'Grady
John J. O’Grady died March 10, 2022 in his home at Meadow Lakes, East Windsor, NJ surrounded by his family after a short illness. John was born December 18, 1928 at home in New London, CT to Irish immigrant parents, attended St. Mary Star of the Sea grammar school and Bulkeley High School where he threw the javelin, played on the state championship football team, and captained the football team his senior year.
After high school, John enlisted in the US Army working as a medical technician. From there, he attended Fordham University earning a BS in marketing. John met his beautiful wife Betty the summer of 1953 in Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ where they eventually retired. They married in November of 1954 and raised their 8 children in Morrisville, PA and Princeton, NJ.
John was VP Marketing of Wenczel Tile Co., Trenton, NJ for 36 years. He was active in local and national building organizations, the Holy Name Society of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Morrisville, PA, Parish Council and CCD at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Princeton, NJ and chairman of the Social Concerns Committee at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ.
John will be remembered by his family as a Renaissance man with a keen intelligence and curiosity, for his love of the ocean, art, music, the woods, nature, travel, history, a good conversation, and an extra dry martini. He believed in the 3 Fs: faith, family and football (Notre Dame in particular).
Always generous, he leaves a legacy of love, caring, kindness and compassion for the greater world community and those he cherished. On his last day he summed it up, “I had a good life and I knew a lot of good people.”
Preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Julia Dolan O’Grady, two sons: John and Michael O’Grady, son-in-law Jay McMichael, husband of Julie, a brother, Francis O’Grady and three sisters: Patricia Rhiver, Florence Nagle, and Elizabeth Corkey. John leaves behind his beloved wife of 67 years, Elizabeth Wenczel O’Grady, 8 children: Patrick (Sally), Kathleen Shanahan (Kevin), James (Trudi), Beth (Andy), Julie, Brian (Julia), Joseph (Jeannie) and Ellen, 16 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
For those who wish to celebrate John’s life with his family, Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, 251 Franklin Street, Hightstown, NJ 08520 Monday, March 14th. Visitation will be at 10:00 am at the church, Mass at 11:00 am. Burial will be immediately following the Mass at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Slate Hill Rd, Morrisville, PA 19067, luncheon will follow at Washington Crossing Inn, 1105 River Rd, Washington Crossing, PA 18977.
Donations in memory of John may be made to:
Asperger/Autism Network (AANE)
https://www.aane.org
or
Best Buddies of North Carolina
Donate (North Carolina) - Best Buddies International
https://www.bestbuddies.org/northcarolina/
In honor of John O’Grady/Supporting Shannon O’Grady - Dare County
After high school, John enlisted in the US Army working as a medical technician. From there, he attended Fordham University earning a BS in marketing. John met his beautiful wife Betty the summer of 1953 in Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ where they eventually retired. They married in November of 1954 and raised their 8 children in Morrisville, PA and Princeton, NJ.
John was VP Marketing of Wenczel Tile Co., Trenton, NJ for 36 years. He was active in local and national building organizations, the Holy Name Society of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Morrisville, PA, Parish Council and CCD at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Princeton, NJ and chairman of the Social Concerns Committee at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ.
John will be remembered by his family as a Renaissance man with a keen intelligence and curiosity, for his love of the ocean, art, music, the woods, nature, travel, history, a good conversation, and an extra dry martini. He believed in the 3 Fs: faith, family and football (Notre Dame in particular).
Always generous, he leaves a legacy of love, caring, kindness and compassion for the greater world community and those he cherished. On his last day he summed it up, “I had a good life and I knew a lot of good people.”
Preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Julia Dolan O’Grady, two sons: John and Michael O’Grady, son-in-law Jay McMichael, husband of Julie, a brother, Francis O’Grady and three sisters: Patricia Rhiver, Florence Nagle, and Elizabeth Corkey. John leaves behind his beloved wife of 67 years, Elizabeth Wenczel O’Grady, 8 children: Patrick (Sally), Kathleen Shanahan (Kevin), James (Trudi), Beth (Andy), Julie, Brian (Julia), Joseph (Jeannie) and Ellen, 16 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
For those who wish to celebrate John’s life with his family, Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, 251 Franklin Street, Hightstown, NJ 08520 Monday, March 14th. Visitation will be at 10:00 am at the church, Mass at 11:00 am. Burial will be immediately following the Mass at Holy Trinity Cemetery, Slate Hill Rd, Morrisville, PA 19067, luncheon will follow at Washington Crossing Inn, 1105 River Rd, Washington Crossing, PA 18977.
Donations in memory of John may be made to:
Asperger/Autism Network (AANE)
https://www.aane.org
or
Best Buddies of North Carolina
Donate (North Carolina) - Best Buddies International
https://www.bestbuddies.org/northcarolina/
In honor of John O’Grady/Supporting Shannon O’Grady - Dare County