Business & Tech

Visitation and Memorial Service Set for Jack Welch

Principal at Bamboo Grille and for Growth Restaurants will be laid to rest Monday, after his death last Tuesday.

Visitation hours and a memorial service date have been set for Bamboo Grille and Growth Restaurants' principal John "Jack" Welch of Basking Ridge, who died suddenly on Tuesday.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, in the center court at Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church at 45 Church St. in Liberty Corner Village, according to information on the Liberty Corner Presbyterian website and on the website for Gallaway and Crane, which is handling funeral arrangements.

Visitation hours have been set for 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave. in Basking Ridge, according to the funeral home.

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The website for Basking Ridge-based Growth Restaurants says that Welch and another Growth Restaurants principal,  Jeff Beers, grew up believing education was the key to fame and fortune.

"After graduation from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in 1969, they didn't even apply for jobs," the website says. "They bought a luncheonette in Union, New Jersey named "The Cozy Corner," and the rest is history. Growth Restaurants was started in 1972 by Beers and Welch. Before Welch's death the group of restaurants — also including Fair Winds Catering in Basking Ridge and The Famished Frog in Morristown — was owned and operated by Beers, Welch and Jim Finnegan. Their expertise has been in developing theme restaurants, the website said.

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Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church announced 'with great sadness' that Welch had died suddenly on Tuesday and asked the church's congregants to pray for his wife Judi, his family, and Judi Welch's family. 

"Thank you for your concern and prayers for Judi Welch and her and Jack's families," the church announcement said. 

The church announcement said that in lieu of flowers, donations honoring Welch may be made to: 

  • Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church
  • Market Street Mission in Morristown
  • Good News Home for Women
  • Somerset Hills YMCA, Basking Ridge 


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