John T. McNamara of Red Bank passed away peacefully Dec. 30, 2024, the day after his 90th birthday.
John is survived by his sons, Daniel and Thomas (Andrea) McNamara, daughters Noreen (Brian) Bertscha, Kerry (Glenn) Corregano, Mary Quill, and Erin (Mitch) Martin, 17 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his loving wife of 58 years, Helen (O’Sullivan), sons Brian and Jack, son-in-law Finbarr Quill, parents Michael and Agnes (Walsh), and brothers James, Michael and Thomas.
John was a first-generation Irish American and immensely proud of his heritage. He grew up in Woodside, Queens, New York, was valedictorian of his class at Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn and earned degrees at Manhattan College and NYU Graduate School of Business. He obtained his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation and spent his career in the insurance and employee benefit consulting fields. He emphasized the importance of education and a strong work ethic to his children and grandchildren.
John had a strong faith as a devoted Catholic and was an active lector and eucharistic minister at St. James Parish in Red Bank for many years. He was dedicated to his volunteer work at the Soup Kitchen in Harlem, driving supplies from the Barn in Colts Neck to Harlem weekly and actually learned to cook a bit.
He loved sports all his life and was an avid Mets, Jets, Knicks and Notre Dame football fan. He took up tennis and golf with mixed success but mostly enjoyed spending time competing with his dear friends. He was a past member of Navesink and Jumping Brook country clubs; he was a member of Monmouth Beach Bath & Tennis Club for over 40 years. John also began long-distance running later in life and successfully completed the NYC Marathon twice and the Jersey Shore Marathon. He enjoyed coaching youth basketball and baseball and went on to cheer for his many grandchildren at sporting events once he retired.
John loved music, dancing at weddings, and watching old Western movies. He never lost his sense of humor, always good for a joke or one-liner, although sometimes inappropriate. He enjoyed traveling often to Ireland with his wife, Helen, and taking river cruises in Europe, Asia and Israel. John was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and was very proud of his big Irish family.
A memorial visitation was held Jan. 9 at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Jan. 10 at St. James Church, Red Bank.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Birthright of Red Bank, 294 Broad St., #1, Red Bank, NJ 07701 or The Missionaries of Charity, 406 W. 127th St., New York, New York 10027.
The family would also like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Stephen Jurewicz and the Atrium for their tireless care and compassion for John until the very end.
The article originally appeared in the January 23 – 29, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
