John “Jack” Dawson

John “Jack” Dawson, 88, of Pompton Plains, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

Jack was born on February 4, 1937, the son of John A. and Emilie (Merkle) Dawson. He was raised in Rutherford, NJ, where he attended and graduated from Rutherford High School with the Class of 1954.

In his early years Jack enlisted in the National Guard to serve his country, where he made lifelong friends. Jack began his working life sweeping floors at Bergen Sheet Metal in East Rutherford while attending Bergen Community College at night. Even after earning his associate’s degree, he continued working at Bergen Sheet Metal, gaining valuable hands-on experience as a sheet metal worker. After ten years with the company, Jack transitioned into a successful career as an engineer in the television industry. Over the years, he designed and installed TV studios across the country—and around the world. Among his many accomplishments, Jack was the creator and designer of the very first mobile television truck, built for ABC Sports and sent to China with Nixon. He loved the challenges of his work and earned the respect of colleagues throughout the industry, working for various companies over the years. Including the Japanese company Fujinon, where he served as Executive Vice President and traveled to Japan multiple times per year. He later went on to serve as the CEO of Vinten. He finished his career working with The Systems Group in Hoboken, where he retired at the age of seventy-nine.

Jack met his beloved wife, Barbara Bogert, through mutual friends. They married on a beautiful, sunny fall day—Saturday, November 11, 1961—at Holy Spirit Church in Pequannock. Afterward, they honeymooned at Mount Airy Lodge in the Poconos. As newlyweds, they lived in an apartment in Clifton for a brief time before moving to Wayne. There, they raised their two sons, John “Jack” and Craig Dawson. Jack adored his sons and showed it by being deeply involved in their lives. They frequented Vermont with the Chernalis family, where they taught their family to ski and spent quality time mountainside at Bromley Mountain.

A proud Eagle Scout himself, Jack served as a Boy Scout leader for his grandson, Noah’s, troop, and even after he grew up and their troop became inactive, he and his fellow leaders continued their tradition of gathering for dinner on the third Wednesday of every month.

When Jack wasn’t traveling for work, he cherished time at home with his family. A natural tinkerer, he enjoyed fixing things around the house and spending quality time with his wife Barbara tending to her beautiful gardens. He also loved to ski and play golf whenever the chance arose. Eventually, Barbara picked up golf too, and the couple made wonderful memories of taking golf vacations with friends.

Jack’s career offered him and Barbara many opportunities to travel, including attending National Association of Broadcasting conventions in places like Las Vegas, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan. One especially treasured trip was a family-and-friends vacation to Alaska with a group of twenty-one loved ones. Closer to home, Jack found great joy at his house on Lake Wallenpaupack in Pennsylvania, where he could relax and make memories with family and friends.

Jack will be fondly remembered for his easy-going nature and the genuine satisfaction he found in helping others. His sons, Jack, and Craig, will always cherish the countless weekends their father spent by their sides, generously giving his time and talents to help them build their homes. His grandson, Noah, will forever be thankful for the guidance and wisdom his grandfather offered, always willing to lend a hand or give a thought any way he could.

Jack was the beloved husband of Barbara (Bogert) Dawson, blessed in marriage for 63 years. He was the loving father of John “Jack” Dawson and wife Melissa of Wayne, and Craig Dawson of Hopatcong; cherished grandfather of John Noah Dawson; dearest brother of the late Dennis Dawson and his late wife Shirley; dear uncle of Kevin Dawson and wife Chelsey, and Glen Dawson; and great uncle of Cooper and Cody, Tyler, Page, and Hunter Dawson.