John David Bourgholtzer

John David Bourgholtzer, born in Chicago on August 22, 1948 to Joseph and Tony Bourgholtzer, died October 25, 2024 after an arduous battle with cancer.

John was a lifelong outdoorsman and enjoyed skiing, fishing, hunting, canoeing and camping and was happy just walking in the woods, often accompanied by one of his faithful bird dogs. He loved to share his knowledge and lore of the outdoors, especially with his children who came to enjoy the same passions. In his teens he worked as a guide for his mentor and friend, the owner of an outdoor trips business, an experience that would become one of the touchstones of his life.

John resided in Mahwah most of his life. He received a B.A. from Manhattan College and joined Joseph Bourgholtzer Inc., the medical advertising and publishing firm started by his father, and became its president. Working on the medical journal Clinical Cardiology afforded him opportunities to travel the world.

From an early age, John was at home in the kitchen, with a sure instinct for improvisation, a skill he learned from a lifetime of cooking in the outdoors and for his family and friends. John also relished the experience of “four wheels and a full tank of gas”. He learned to drive on his father’s twin-cam MGA, and his own carefully tended MGB survives him. His simple pleasures included a cup of coffee, classic movies and songs, a conversation with a friend, visiting a bakery and reading the New York Times religiously.

John is predeceased by his son Matthew and twin brother Dan.  Surviving are his wife, Debra (Eisenlohr), son Owen; daughter Jillian Dorr (Jon), grandchildren Charlotte and Sam; sisters Mary K. Sullivan and Joey Bourgholtzer; as well as nieces and nephews, grandnieces and nephews and many good friends.

Arrangements are through Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, Ramsey N.J. A celebration of life will be held at a future time.

In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory can be made to the National Society for Multiple Sclerosis.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of John David Bourgholtzer, please visit our Tree Store.