It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of John J. Gilday, 89, of Hamburg, NJ who was reunited with the love of his life Gloria on December 5 after a brief illness.
Jack, as he was known, was a long time resident of Hudson County and was born and raised in West New York where he met his wife while at St. Joseph’s Grammar School, later attending Saint Joseph’s High School together where he starred in basketball and was years later entered into the school’s athletic hall of fame. His parents, John and Mary, immigrated from Ireland. He was predeceased by his sister Mary Kirkwood.
After winning a scholarship for basketball to the U.S. Naval Academy and his naval service, Jack married Gloria in 1956 and they lived in Guttenberg, NJ where they raised their daughters Gail Dauster (Oakland, NJ) and Jane Martucci (Stockholm, NJ). After retirement from the Port Authority Police Department and US Postal Service, Jack and Gloria retired to Manahawkin, later moving to Hamburg, NJ. Gloria passed away in 2014.
Jack is survived by his daughters Gail and her husband Bill and Jane and her husband Steve and his adoring grandchildren Jack Dauster (Jersey City), Natalie Dauster (Oakland) and Matthew and Nicholas Martucci (Stockholm) as well as many nieces and nephews who he served lovingly as stand-in father and advisor.
An avid golfer, Jack loved to read and was a fan of college basketball. He will be remembered most for the adoration of his wife, the pride and love of his daughters and their children and most of all, his love of laughter and ever present approving winking eye.
Visiting hours will be at the Oakland Memorial Home at 330 Ramapo Road in Oakland, NJ on Thursday, December 9 from 3 pm to 7 pm, with service Friday at 10 am at Oakland Memorial Home, followed by interment at George Washington Memorial Park, 234 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ.
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