John Adam Caspar passed away Sunday April 26 at the age of 93. “Uncle Jack” was born in Newark and at the age of five moved to Verona. With the exception of his military service and college years, he was a lifelong resident of Verona.
Upon graduating from Verona High School (Class of ’44), he enlisted in the Navy to serve during WWII.The Navy enrolled him in their electronic school in Chicago and upon completion was assigned duty in the Pacific. Jack always mentioned how well the people of Chicago treated “the boys” in the military. When the war ended he returned home, and under the GI Bill, enrolled in Rutgers University College of Engineering.He graduated “Cum Laude” in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He was also a member of the Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi.
When the Korean War began, Jack re-enlisted in the Navy and served as a Radioman aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Brinkley Bass (DD-887). The ship saw action in the Western Pacific.
At the conclusion of the Korean War, Jack began his engineering career working for the Curtiss Wright Corporation, eventually moving to Singer Kearfott (Special Products Division) in Little Falls. It was here that he would spend his entire career designing numerous mechanical devices primarily for Defense Contractors such as Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, Martin Marietta, and Thiokol, among others. During his career, he was awarded multiple patents including one for work associated with the development of the RamJet engine.
In his youth he liked to hunt and trap, and also enjoyed many years of bowling and skiing. As a boat owner, Jack was an avid boater and fisherman, and a member of the Belmar Fishing Club. Later in life, he could often be found assisting his family in home remodeling and repairs. Jack was the ultimate handyman and perfectionist. There was virtually nothing that he couldn’t build or repair; a true testament to a Charter Member of the “Greatest Generation.”
Jack was predeceased by his older brother, Charles W. Caspar Jr. He is survived by two nephews, William (Rose) Caspar of Whitehouse Station, N.J. and Richard Caspar of Jupiter, Fla., along with six great nieces and nephews. Final internment will be at Restland Cemetery in East Hanover.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made through IN MEMORY OF at www.inmemof.org/John-A-Caspar.org for the benefit of the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation or a veterans charity of your choice.
