Obituary of John S Rospond

Visiting Hours on Wednesday February 10, 2010 have been CANCELLED due to inclement weather JOHN S. ROSPOND World War II Veteran John S. Rospond, 89, of Basking Ridge, died Friday, February 5th of respiratory failure at Overlook Hospital, Summit. Family and Friends are invited to visit the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home 101 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 on Thursday February 11, 2010 from 9am- 10:30am. An 11:00 a.m. service will take place on Thursday at Saint James Church, South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, where he was an usher. Internment is at General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy for six submarine war patrols on the U.S.S. Blackfish. He participated in Operations Crossroads for the "A" bomb and "B" bomb missions in the South Pacific. He served for 10 years in the Navy and 29 years in the Naval Reserve, retiring as Master Chief Botswains Mate. A South Orange resident for 38 years, he was an active member of Our Lady Of Sorrows Church. John also served as Scoutmaster Of Boy Scout Troop 10 in South Orange. He worked as an installer of equipment in telephone central offices for Western Electric, retiring after 46 years. John was an active member of American Legion Lt. George Pietrucha Post 319, in Irvington for 62 years, serving as Commander and Treasurer. Statewide, he served as "Chef De Gare" of Essex Voiture 40&8 of the American Legion, as well as New Jersey Vice Commander. For 50 years he was active in many Legion programs at Veterans Hospitals in East Orange and Lyons. He also volunteered at Mother Teresa's Soup Kitchen in Newark for 22 years. He was the beloved husband of Jeanette (nee Pietrucha) for 62 years; father of Richard and wife Jean of Doylestown, PA, Rev. Paul of Knoxville, TN, Mary Chris and husband Marc Podems of Green Brook, NJ. He is also survived by granddaughters Erica Bixel of Iselin, Lauren Cutting and great granddaughters Madeline and Georgia "Gigi" Cutting of Doylestown, PA. Those who wish may make contributions in his memory to Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, 168 Sussex Street, Newark, NJ 07103. For more information please call the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home at 908-766-0250.