John E. "Jack" Williams Jr

John Elmer (Jack/Red) Williams, Jr., of Mt. Holly, NJ Departed Wednesday, March 4, 2015 Born in Trenton, NJ, in 1928, Jack lived in Jamesburg, NJ for years at the NJ State Home for Boys, where his father was the printing teacher. At Jamesburg High School, Williams earned varsity in basketball, soccer, track, and baseball, and was recipient of the initial Alvin B. Timberman Award as Gentleman-Athlete-Scholar. He was selected to both All-County and All-State Teams in basketball, baseball, and track. While still a student there, “Red” was offered a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Though he was instructed by, and later offered a place on the team as a pitcher by Branch Rickey, Sr., (the man who broke the “color barrier” in baseball by signing Jackie Robinson), Jack instead chose to finish high school. Princeton University extended an acceptance letter to Jack, who, upon receiving this news, promptly enlisted in the Marine Corps! He was a veteran of WW2, serving as a Corporal on Guam, Marianas Islands, and elsewhere in the Pacific Theater. Returning from the War, Jack entered Rutgers. A 4-year Varsity ('50-'54) letter winning pitcher with the Rutgers Baseball team, he played for the legendary George Case; he also played 150 lb. football, and ran track at RU. Williams's baccalaureate degree was in English and Physical Education, a pairing usually considered mutually exclusive. Returning to Rutgers, he earned a Masters in Educational Administration. Mr. Williams began his teaching career at Jamesburg High School, teaching English and Social Studies, and coaching three sports. In the 60's, Jack worked as a manager and director for RCA's Education Division, first in Cherry Hill, then in Sparta, WI, working with the RCA/University of Wisconsin Job Corps/U.S. Office of Education project centers there and in New York City. He was a beloved Assistant Professor of English at Rider University and English Department Chair at Northern Burlington and Rancocas Valley Regional High Schools, where he taught from 1955-’61 and 1974-‘90; he was also a freshman football, j.v. and varsity basketball, and golf coach at Rancocas Valley, leading the Burlington County League Champion 1981 golf team with a record of 18-1. A formidable golf competitor until late in his last year, he won many league and club championships, and was teaching professional at Laurel Oak Golf Course in Voorhees and Springfield Golf Clubs, as well as the Rancocas Valley Regional Adult School, from 1968-1990. As a husband and father, a highlight was taking his wife, Joan, for a tour of the British Isles, including the Wimbledon Championships, and to see the land of Williams family origin in Wales. These trips enhanced his appreciation for, and effectiveness teaching English literature. Many of the students who survived his demanding but rewarding teaching have gone on to be leaders in the teaching, literary, athletic, and military fields. He counted Rhodes Scholars, an Army General, a Medal of Honor recipient, and scores of top flight golfers among his students. His recommendations were earned, never given, and were instrumental in landing top students' appointments at West Point, Annapolis, Oxford, and other superlative institutions of learning. Retiring from public school and university teaching in 1990, and when not at the golf course or in the evening, Jack was a passionate cook, calligrapher, woodworker, and continued his lifelong love of gardening. Of course, he was always a fountain of information and analysis on all matters sport, and was a proud contributor to the ulcers of Philadelphia television station General Managers with his letters defending the English language, protesting repeated bludgeoning of same by “amateurish” dabblers in the language (aka television news anchors). John is survived by his loving and lovely wife of 60 years, Joan B. Williams, and by his handsome and articulate sons Timothy, a health & nutrition educator, of Ridge, NY, and Thomas, a software professional, of Delran, NJ. Many friends and associates will continue his remembrance. A celebration of Jack's life will be held at a later date. Contact family directly for details. In lieu of flowery offerings, contributions may be made in his name to either the First Tee of Greater Trenton (for underprivileged youth golfers) at www.thefirstteegreatertrenton.org, or to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate).

John E. "Jack" Williams Jr

May 31, 1928 - March 4, 2015