Dr. John “Jack” D. Powers, 92, of Little Silver, passed away on March 19 after a full and wonderful life. He was born in Red Bank, attended Red Bank public schools and later graduated from Colgate University where he studied pre-med. This was interrupted by three years of duty in the US Navy. After graduating from Midshipman School at Northwestern University in Chicago and sub-chaser school in Miami, he was deployed to the Pacific theater during the latter part of World War II just after the Iwo Jima invasion aboard the USS LSM 141. After discharge from the Navy and completing college he went to Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia followed by an internship in Lansing, Michigan. He returned to Fair Haven with his wife, Eleanor (Clayton) ‘Arny’ Powers whom he had married during junior year of medical school.
Dr. Powers was a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and for 50 years conducted his practice with an ever present sense of joy and compassion. He was dedicated to his patients both during office visits and regular house calls. Upon retirement in 1993, he became medical director of the River view Medical Center Outpatient Clinic which he served for four years.
Dr. Powers was devoted to his wife and family of five children and their many activities including camping, sailboat cruising and extended family reunions. He was an active competitor in squash, tennis, sailboat racing and golf (the last being the most humbling). He also enjoyed sailboat cruising with friends and family. He logged many memorable sailing voyages including regular family vacations to Block Island aboard his several sloops named Spray and most notable, a trip with several friends on a 65 foot sloop to Florida where they narrowly escaped disaster sailing through a rogue hurricane off the Carolinas.
Jack was a member of the Tower Hill Presbyterian Church for over 50 years which had a profound and positive influence on him and a longtime member of Monmouth Boat Club.
Jack was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor Powers; his parents, Ellwood and Christine Powers; his sisters, Marjorie and Jane; his daughter-in-law, Terry; and three grandchildren, Joshua, Grace and Kathleen.
Left behind are his four sons, Jack (and Jan), Tom (and Sally), Jim (and Megan), Stephen and daughter Bonnie Banahan (Jim); his Laotian son, Thowpaou “Bruce” Bliatout; 13 grandchildren, Brittany, Andrew, Kelly, Robert, Buddy, Johnny, Kitty, Joseph, Stephen, Michael, Nikki, Sean and Jane; and many loving nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Gathering will be held on Thursday, March 24 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, April 29 at 11 a.m. at the Tower Hill Presbyterian Church, 255 Harding Rd., Red Bank. Charitable donations can be made to Hospice-VNA or the Parker Health Clinic.
