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Services
Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 from 4-8 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 9:45 AM from the funeral home on Thursday, February 4, 2016 then to Holy Spirit RC Church, 330 Newark Pompton Tpk., Pequannock where an 11 AM Mass will be offered.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
John J. McKniff III, ESQ., age 66, of Wayne, passed Friday, January 29, 2016.
age 66, of Wayne Township died Friday, January 29, as a result of complications from Primary Lateral Sclerosis. He was born on August 17, 1949 in Ridley Park, PA and resided in Paterson, Passaic, and Pequannock before moving to Wayne for the last 30 years.
John graduated from Rutgers (Newark) with a degree in Political Science before receiving his Juris Doctorate from Delaware Law School where he was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society. While in college he became the youngest person to run for the office of State Assembly and City Council in Paterson. After graduation he served as the City Attorney in Passaic for 10 years before becoming the Assistant City Attorney in Wayne for 25 years. He served on the Board of the Passaic County Children’s Shelter and was President of the Board of Directors of Catholic Family and Community Services. He loved to serve and acted as the President of the Home and School Association of Holy Spirit School where he instituted its first Carnival which he ran for the next 30 years. He served as a member of the Football Fathers of DePaul High School and as a lector and trustee of Holy Spirit Church for many years. As a result he received the Vivere Christus award from the Diocese of Paterson. He was a trustee of the State Board of Municipal Attorney’s and was a Diplomat of the Institute for Continuing Legal Education where he was instrumental in having Municipal Law declared as a legal specialty. In addition, he received the Gordon P. Griffin Award from the NJ Institute of Legal Government Attorneys for excellence in Municipal Law. He was also proud of his 5 recorded decisions before the NJ State Supreme Court.
He was most proud of being known as “The Godfather” because if anyone needed his help, he gave it freely.
He was predeceased by his parents John McKniff Jr and Carmela Tirri. He is survived by his wife of 42 years Regina (nee Simmen) and his children, Eric of Wayne, Todd and his wife Sharon of Wayne, and his daughter Kristen of Jersey City. He is also survived by his grandson Connor John and his granddog Miss Olivia. He is also survived by his loving Aunt and adopted mother Helen Thomas and her husband Charles and his sister and brother in law, Pauline and George Alger and MaryEllen Simmen. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Holy Spirit Church or School, 330 Newark Pompton Tpk., Pequannock, NJ 07440 would be appreciated.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 from 4-8 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 9:45 AM from the funeral home on Thursday, February 4, 2016 then to Holy Spirit RC Church, 330 Newark Pompton Tpk., Pequannock where an 11 AM Mass will be offered.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 from 4-8 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 9:45 AM from the funeral home on Thursday, February 4, 2016 then to Holy Spirit RC Church, 330 Newark Pompton Tpk., Pequannock where an 11 AM Mass will be offered.
Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
John J. McKniff III, ESQ., age 66, of Wayne, passed Friday, January 29, 2016.
age 66, of Wayne Township died Friday, January 29, as a result of complications from Primary Lateral Sclerosis. He was born on August 17, 1949 in Ridley Park, PA and resided in Paterson, Passaic, and Pequannock before moving to Wayne for the last 30 years.
John graduated from Rutgers (Newark) with a degree in Political Science before receiving his Juris Doctorate from Delaware Law School where he was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society. While in college he became the youngest person to run for the office of State Assembly and City Council in Paterson. After graduation he served as the City Attorney in Passaic for 10 years before becoming the Assistant City Attorney in Wayne for 25 years. He served on the Board of the Passaic County Children’s Shelter and was President of the Board of Directors of Catholic Family and Community Services. He loved to serve and acted as the President of the Home and School Association of Holy Spirit School where he instituted its first Carnival which he ran for the next 30 years. He served as a member of the Football Fathers of DePaul High School and as a lector and trustee of Holy Spirit Church for many years. As a result he received the Vivere Christus award from the Diocese of Paterson. He was a trustee of the State Board of Municipal Attorney’s and was a Diplomat of the Institute for Continuing Legal Education where he was instrumental in having Municipal Law declared as a legal specialty. In addition, he received the Gordon P. Griffin Award from the NJ Institute of Legal Government Attorneys for excellence in Municipal Law. He was also proud of his 5 recorded decisions before the NJ State Supreme Court.
He was most proud of being known as “The Godfather” because if anyone needed his help, he gave it freely.
He was predeceased by his parents John McKniff Jr and Carmela Tirri. He is survived by his wife of 42 years Regina (nee Simmen) and his children, Eric of Wayne, Todd and his wife Sharon of Wayne, and his daughter Kristen of Jersey City. He is also survived by his grandson Connor John and his granddog Miss Olivia. He is also survived by his loving Aunt and adopted mother Helen Thomas and her husband Charles and his sister and brother in law, Pauline and George Alger and MaryEllen Simmen. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Holy Spirit Church or School, 330 Newark Pompton Tpk., Pequannock, NJ 07440 would be appreciated.
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