Obituary of John Peter Townley

On February 9, 2016, John Peter Townley, Sr. left on his final journey to be reunited in heaven with his loving wife and sweetheart, Gloria. John was born December 28, 1924 to the late John P. Townley and Leona Walter Townley in Plainfield, NJ. He grew up in Plainfield and was an active member of Saint Mary's Parish until his relocation to Florida in 1975. He attended Saint Mary's Grammar School and Plainfield High School, graduating from PHS in June 1942. In November 1942, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Being only seventeen, he needed his mother's written permission, which he received only after promising that he wouldn't get killed. In the Marine Corps, he completed basic training at Parris Island and Ordnance Repair School at Quantico, Va. John was assigned to the 3rd Service Battalion 3rd Marine Division and saw combat action on Bougainville, Solomon Islands; Guam, Marianas Islands; and Iwo Jima. He was proud of his service in the Marine Corps, especially being an Iwo Jima survivor. John was the perfect example of "Once a Marine, Always a Marine." While in the Marines and stationed in the Pacific, he proposed marriage by proxy to the love of his life, Gloria Marie Longo; his mother handled the duty and presented the engagement ring. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, John and Gloria were married on January 19, 1946. In April of 1946, John entered the Plainfield Fire Department, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle. John carried with him to the fire service the ideals he obtained while in the Marine Corps, the same "Esprit de Corps" that he carried throughout his life. He firmly believed that there was a duty to always do your very best. He rose through the ranks, placing first on each Civil Service promotional exam, becoming Lieutenant in 1953, Captain in 1956, Deputy Chief in 1962, and finally Chief in 1968. During his service as captain, John organized and established the department's Bureau of Fire Prevention and served as the first Chief Inspector. He was known throughout the state and nationally for his advocacy of fire prevention and automatic fire sprinkler protection for health care facilities and high rise buildings. His career in the fire service extended to being a consultant to the New Jersey State Department of Community Affairs for Municipal Fire Protection Evaluations; the New Jersey State Department of Education for school safety; and as an Instructor at Rutgers, the State University. John was also a well-known and highly respected member of the Board of Directors, New Jersey State Fire College, where he taught innumerable courses on fire prevention, firefighting tactics and strategy, and fire administration. In December 1974, John retired from the Plainfield Fire Department leaving behind "a fire service second to none." Following his retirement, John and Gloria relocated to Deerfield Beach, Florida, where he continued his career as a Fire Services Consultant. Over the next few years, John provided consulting services to many municipalities in New Jersey and to communities in Massachusetts through the Massachusetts Municipal Association. His consulting practice also included advisory services to Public Administration Services, Chicago; Brookhaven National Laboratory; the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and Ohio River Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. He also provided fire safety consulting services to a number of hospitals. While living in Deerfield Beach, Florida, John also began what was to become almost a new career as an over fifty softball player with the Deerfield Beach Over 50 Softball Club, eventually moving through the Over 60's team to the Over 70's team. In addition to being a regular player, he also was a certified umpire for several years. As with John's other careers, his involvement with the club and the softball leagues expanded to his appointment as the first Commissioner of the Florida Half Century Softball League. He remained active with the league until his return to New Jersey in 2010. John was elected in 2000 to the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes and honors players, managers, directors, umpires and others, who have achieved the highest honors in senior softball. John and his son, Pete, who was also a Marine, traveled on a number of occasions to reunions of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Division in which Pete served a tour of duty in Viet Nam. Both Marines loved the camaraderie of the Corps and enjoyed every opportunity to reunite with fellow Marines John was a dedicated family man and husband to his wife of 67 years, Gloria, the primary focus of his devotion. John is survived by his brother, Robert W. and his wife Joan in Camarillo, California; his three sons and their wives: John Peter, Jr (Pete) and Donna in Sugar Land, TX; Michael Robert and Janet in South Plainfield, NJ; and James William and Anne in Wyckoff, NJ. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Jennifer (who enjoyed a very special relationship being born on his birthday), John P. III (Peter), Michael R. Jr, Megan, Sarah, George, Brian and Jack. He is also survived by eight great-grandchildren: Hayden, Connor, Erin, Amanda, Daria, Aidan, Jonah and Luke, along with many devoted nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Gloria Marie in 2013; by his parents, John and Leona; by his brothers Gerald and Bernard; and by his sisters Vivian, Muriel, and Lorraine. John's last few years of his life were spent with the loving care of his son, Michael, and his daughter-in-law, Janet. Recently, John commented "You know, I have lived a good life." Anyone who knew him would wholeheartedly agree. A visitation will be held on Sunday, February 14th from 2 to 6 pm at Higgins Home for Funerals, 2019 West 8th Street, Plainfield. Funeral services will begin on Monday at 9:00 am at the funeral home followed by a 10:00 am funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Church in South Plainfield. Interment will Be at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in John's memory to Food for the Poor, Inc., 6401 Lyons Rd., Coconut Creek, FL 33073 or at www.foodforthepoor.org.