Obituary: John J. Stetina, 84, of Basking Ridge

Obituary courtesy Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home

John J. Stetina of Basking Ridge, NJ died Monday morning at his residence, surrounded by his loving family. A memorial service in celebration of his life was held on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 11am at the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church, 45 Church St., Liberty Corner, NJ 07938. 

Born in Newark, NJ, John grew up in Irvington, lived in Union, and then resided in Little Falls for 22 years before making Basking Ridge his home in 1988. 

A 1952 Army G.I. Bill of Rights graduate of Georgia Tech where he played both football and baseball and was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, John worked for the Coca Cola Company, Liberty Mutual, J.P. Stevens, and Colt Industries before retiring from Becton Dickinson in 1992 after 23 years as the Director of Corporate Risk.

While at J.P. Stevens, John met his amazing wife of 47 years, Joan. 

An avid athlete, John especially enjoyed playing softball and basketball, golfing, and most of all, spending time on the lake. He was also a dedicated coach and fan of his children's sports teams throughout the years and a lifelong fan of the Cincinnati Reds, through good seasons and bad. 

John was a well-respected former Trustee of his church who participated in numerous construction-based humanitarian efforts including Hearts for Honduras and Habitat for Humanity. He was also a member of the Freemasonry and active member of his neighborhood association. 

A wonderful husband, father, and grandfather, John is survived by his wife Joan (nee Weiler); daughters and sons-in law Jenny and Ben Davidson of Madison, NJ and Sarah Jane and Ryan Trobaugh of Claremont, CA; sister Helen Shaver of Hendersonville, NC, and grandchildren John and Charlie Davidson and Annie Trobaugh. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in John's name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at lls.org.