Jack T. Wilson, Sr.

Jack Thomas Wilson Sr. 78 of Mahwah, NJ  passed away Thursday morning, January 20, 2022, at the VA home in Paramus, NJ. He was born in Corry, Pa. and spent his early years living in Erie, Pa. moving to NJ in 1971 after an Honorable Discharge from the military.  The past 23 years he, his wife Ellen and son Robert have resided in Mahwah, NJ.
 
He was in the Boy Scouts attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.  During the Summer he lifeguarded on Lake Erie.  It was there that he proposed to the love of his life and future wife Ellen J. Hoover at the much coveted Beach 6, which was the, "IN", place to be for young people at the time!
 
He attended Cathedral Prep High School in Erie on a full scholarship for baseball as a four-year starting catcher for the Varsity Team.
 
He went on from there to attend Pennsylvania Military College which is now Widener University in Chester, Pa. While at PMC he rose to the rank of Cadet Captain and Executive Officer of the First Battalion.  He was an active member in the Ranger Platoon and Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity.  He was engaged in athletics as well while at PMC, playing the position of Varsity defense for their soccer team during his junior & senior years.
 
Upon graduation he was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant in the 82nd Airborne Division. From September 1967 to November 1968 he served as a platoon leader for a South Vietnamese Infantry Unit in Vietnam while also working as Military Intelligence with the South Vietnamese Railroad system.  He left active duty in 1973 with the rank of Captain and remained in the U.S. Army Reserves for an additional 10 years attaining the rank of Major.
 
Being a natural born people person he started what would become his 40 year career in sales selling, first pharmaceuticals for Pfizer and print and promotional materials in Westchester and then NYC, retiring in 2017 as Senior Account Executive.   He was an avid sports enthusiast and officiated baseball, football and soccer.  His favorite sport was football, he loved working the big high school games featuring the best teams in the area! Pregame was his favorite time to joke around and swap stories with the other officials. Enjoying drinks and food after the games with the other referees was the highlight of the day!
 
Jack attained his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ in 1979.  He had a brilliant mind for historical data with an uncanny recall!  He was the absolute worst person to play Trivial Pursuit with!  He knew the answer to every question in every category with the one exception being: "What was the name of the skunk in the Warner Brothers cartoons?"  He was the original, "GOOGLE"!  He knew every answer on Jeopardy! He was an avid story teller!  He was well known for telling the same story over and over again but being that he was so animated and entertaining it was always the highlight of the day or event!  His sarcasm, quick humor and wit will be forever missed!  He was TRULY ONE OF A KIND and we are all better for having had him in our lives!!!
 
He was passionate about U.S. History, World History and sports history, which he loved discussing! he loved camping and traveling with his family, often visiting historical sites throughout the Eastern and Southern United States.
 
He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Ellen J. Wilson (nee Hoover), son Jack T. Jr. & his wife Jennifer, son Robert, daughter Christine Copley-Marotta & her husband Gregory G. Marotta, grandson Ryan T. Copley, grandaughter Samantha N. Copley and grandson Austin T. Wilson, brother-in-law Robert Hoover and his wife Audrey Hoover, brother-in-law Gregory Glaz, niece Andrea Gunns, nephew Timothy Hoover.
 
He is pre-deceased by his parents Rebecca O. Wilson (nee Bell) and Robert A. Wilson and his sister Rebecca Kay Glaz.
 
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, 109 Darlington Avenue, Ramsey, NJ 07446, Tel: 201-327-0030

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 10: 00 AM  at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 200 Wyckoff Avenue, Ramsey, NJ 07446
 
The family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations may be made to The Gary Senise Foundation in support of all veterans.
 
 

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