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August 9, 2018
Services
Memorial Visitation, including a time of sharing of memories by John’s family and a military honors ceremony, will be held at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home on Sunday, September 30, 2018, from 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM. A service will immediately follow at 12:30 PM.
John Chiocca, age 97 of Wayne, passed peacefully at the Christian Health Care Center, Wyckoff with the comfort of family by his side, on Thursday, August 9, 2018.
John was born and raised in Union City where he attended Emerson High School and graduated at the top of his class in 1939. He continued his education at Montclair State Teachers College, graduating in 1943 with his bachelor’s degree in chemistry. While there, he excelled as a member of the debate society and served as president of his class.
Shortly after graduating from college, John enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps where he entered officer’s training school, which included further educational course work at both Yale and Columbia Universities. With special training in communications and aeronautical navigation, John was ultimately able to put his training to good use when he was stationed in India where he oversaw the transport of cargo “Over the Hump” from India into China to resupply the Chinese war effort and the United States Army Air Forces. At the conclusion of the War, John was fortunate to spend three months in Italy (at the expense of the military!) where he reconnected with many of his Italian relatives, for whom he harbored deep fondness. Even in his final days, John was privileged to receive a visit from one of his young Italian cousins, Elisabetta Zerbo who came to NYC on business. An active duty officer from 1944 to 1947, he remained in the Air Force Reserves until 1967, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel. His last reserve position was serving as the Executive Officer of the Air Reserve Squadron based in Newark, N.J. For his service to his country John was the recipient of the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Upon return from active duty service, John commenced a career as a sales representative first with National Cash Register (NCR), and then with Oneida Packaging Products, which years later evolved into Pacquet Oneida, Inc., a flexible packaging converter which primarily served the potato chip and snack food industry. He had a successful and fulfilling career at Pacquet Oneida, retiring as its vice president of sales and marketing after 35 years.
John met his beloved wife Doris at an American Legion Hall in West Hoboken. Doris, too, had served in the military during World War II. This shared experience of service forever defined their mutual love of the armed forces and our great Country. After John and Doris married, they bought a home in North Bergen, where they soon had their first two children (girls). Shortly thereafter they began looking for a home in the area of Wayne and Oakland where Doris’ family had often spent weekends at the areas’ lakes. In 1955 they settled into the Pines Lake section of Wayne where they would raise their family, which subsequently included two boys, and live amongst their many cherished friends for almost sixty years.
John quickly embraced life in Pines Lake where he enthusiastically enjoyed teaching his daughters and sons the finer skills of fishing and boating. When his sons were young and involved in scouting, John served as a volunteer with the Cub Scouts. He and Doris were of one accord in taking a keen interest in the development of their children. Knowing that it would benefit their family and other children, they were instrumental in helping to found the Wayne Hills Patriots Club, which helped raise money for Wayne Hills High School athletics programs. They spent their money wisely, saw little value in material things, and felt it was better to give the kids life experiences that they believed would help shape the lives of their children as they grew older. Those experiences were often in the form of travel to various parts of the world. Their trips included Bermuda, Mexico, the Canary Islands, and many European and Scandinavian countries including Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Holland, Luxembourg, and Belgium. Even in their later years John and Doris traveled extensively, including a number of Elderhostels, enjoying all they could learn about this great world.
John never had trouble finding ways to serve or endeavors to explore. When the Pompton Reformed Church needed a person to undertake the time consuming task of serving as chairman of its building expansion project, they called on John and he was glad to assist. At home, he was an excellent gardener who could propagate new trees and shrubs from the cuttings of established ones. He transformed his own yard into a wooded paradise, which he and his family enjoyed for many years. Both John and Doris enjoyed working outside and enjoying beautiful woodland gardens, which led them to volunteer their time, well into their late eighties, at the Laurelwood Arboretum – a 30 acre botanical paradise with beautiful gardens, ponds and trails located in Wayne. In later years, John and Doris were active in the Pines Lake Seniors Club where John served as president.
John’s greatest devotion was to his family. His grandchildren brought tremendous joy to him, particularly in recent years when he was so fortunate to see each of them achieve sought after goals. From his woodworking shop in the basement of his home, he would make beautiful wooden keepsake Christmas presents for his sons and daughters. These treasures will forever serve as a reminder of their father’s talents and love.
John was the loving husband of Doris who passed away in 2015. He was the devoted father of Lynne Chiocca and her husband Ron Riccardo of Poinciana, FL, Barbara Chiocca and her husband Henry Merriman of North Granby, CT, the Honorable Randal Chiocca and his wife Deborah of Wayne, and Douglas Chiocca and his wife Diane of Wayne; cherished grandfather of Kaitlin Prieto and her husband Mikhail Prieto, Nathaniel Merriman, Daniel Chiocca, Parker Merriman, Nicholas Chiocca, and Gianna Chiocca; dear brother of the late Elso Chiocca and his late wife Helen; loved uncle of Richard Chiocca and his wife Susan of Bedford, NH; loved brother-in-law of Kathleen Niziol and her husband Edward of West Milford; and dear brother-in-law of the late Adele Trenz and her late husband John of Westtown, NY.
Those inclined to send flowers are asked to instead consider a donation to a military charity of their choice.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Memorial Visitation, including a time of sharing of memories by John’s family and a military honors ceremony, will be held at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home on Sunday, September 30, 2018, from 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM. A service will immediately follow at 12:30 PM.
August 9, 2018
Services
Memorial Visitation, including a time of sharing of memories by John’s family and a military honors ceremony, will be held at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home on Sunday, September 30, 2018, from 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM. A service will immediately follow at 12:30 PM.
John Chiocca, age 97 of Wayne, passed peacefully at the Christian Health Care Center, Wyckoff with the comfort of family by his side, on Thursday, August 9, 2018.
John was born and raised in Union City where he attended Emerson High School and graduated at the top of his class in 1939. He continued his education at Montclair State Teachers College, graduating in 1943 with his bachelor’s degree in chemistry. While there, he excelled as a member of the debate society and served as president of his class.
Shortly after graduating from college, John enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps where he entered officer’s training school, which included further educational course work at both Yale and Columbia Universities. With special training in communications and aeronautical navigation, John was ultimately able to put his training to good use when he was stationed in India where he oversaw the transport of cargo “Over the Hump” from India into China to resupply the Chinese war effort and the United States Army Air Forces. At the conclusion of the War, John was fortunate to spend three months in Italy (at the expense of the military!) where he reconnected with many of his Italian relatives, for whom he harbored deep fondness. Even in his final days, John was privileged to receive a visit from one of his young Italian cousins, Elisabetta Zerbo who came to NYC on business. An active duty officer from 1944 to 1947, he remained in the Air Force Reserves until 1967, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel. His last reserve position was serving as the Executive Officer of the Air Reserve Squadron based in Newark, N.J. For his service to his country John was the recipient of the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Upon return from active duty service, John commenced a career as a sales representative first with National Cash Register (NCR), and then with Oneida Packaging Products, which years later evolved into Pacquet Oneida, Inc., a flexible packaging converter which primarily served the potato chip and snack food industry. He had a successful and fulfilling career at Pacquet Oneida, retiring as its vice president of sales and marketing after 35 years.
John met his beloved wife Doris at an American Legion Hall in West Hoboken. Doris, too, had served in the military during World War II. This shared experience of service forever defined their mutual love of the armed forces and our great Country. After John and Doris married, they bought a home in North Bergen, where they soon had their first two children (girls). Shortly thereafter they began looking for a home in the area of Wayne and Oakland where Doris’ family had often spent weekends at the areas’ lakes. In 1955 they settled into the Pines Lake section of Wayne where they would raise their family, which subsequently included two boys, and live amongst their many cherished friends for almost sixty years.
John quickly embraced life in Pines Lake where he enthusiastically enjoyed teaching his daughters and sons the finer skills of fishing and boating. When his sons were young and involved in scouting, John served as a volunteer with the Cub Scouts. He and Doris were of one accord in taking a keen interest in the development of their children. Knowing that it would benefit their family and other children, they were instrumental in helping to found the Wayne Hills Patriots Club, which helped raise money for Wayne Hills High School athletics programs. They spent their money wisely, saw little value in material things, and felt it was better to give the kids life experiences that they believed would help shape the lives of their children as they grew older. Those experiences were often in the form of travel to various parts of the world. Their trips included Bermuda, Mexico, the Canary Islands, and many European and Scandinavian countries including Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Holland, Luxembourg, and Belgium. Even in their later years John and Doris traveled extensively, including a number of Elderhostels, enjoying all they could learn about this great world.
John never had trouble finding ways to serve or endeavors to explore. When the Pompton Reformed Church needed a person to undertake the time consuming task of serving as chairman of its building expansion project, they called on John and he was glad to assist. At home, he was an excellent gardener who could propagate new trees and shrubs from the cuttings of established ones. He transformed his own yard into a wooded paradise, which he and his family enjoyed for many years. Both John and Doris enjoyed working outside and enjoying beautiful woodland gardens, which led them to volunteer their time, well into their late eighties, at the Laurelwood Arboretum – a 30 acre botanical paradise with beautiful gardens, ponds and trails located in Wayne. In later years, John and Doris were active in the Pines Lake Seniors Club where John served as president.
John’s greatest devotion was to his family. His grandchildren brought tremendous joy to him, particularly in recent years when he was so fortunate to see each of them achieve sought after goals. From his woodworking shop in the basement of his home, he would make beautiful wooden keepsake Christmas presents for his sons and daughters. These treasures will forever serve as a reminder of their father’s talents and love.
John was the loving husband of Doris who passed away in 2015. He was the devoted father of Lynne Chiocca and her husband Ron Riccardo of Poinciana, FL, Barbara Chiocca and her husband Henry Merriman of North Granby, CT, the Honorable Randal Chiocca and his wife Deborah of Wayne, and Douglas Chiocca and his wife Diane of Wayne; cherished grandfather of Kaitlin Prieto and her husband Mikhail Prieto, Nathaniel Merriman, Daniel Chiocca, Parker Merriman, Nicholas Chiocca, and Gianna Chiocca; dear brother of the late Elso Chiocca and his late wife Helen; loved uncle of Richard Chiocca and his wife Susan of Bedford, NH; loved brother-in-law of Kathleen Niziol and her husband Edward of West Milford; and dear brother-in-law of the late Adele Trenz and her late husband John of Westtown, NY.
Those inclined to send flowers are asked to instead consider a donation to a military charity of their choice.
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