Fair Havenite John Somerville passed away peacefully at his home on June 12. He was 100 years old.
Born in Evanston, IL to John and Corinne Patton Somerville, John divided his time between Chicago and Sarasota, FL. He graduated Asheville High School, Asheville, NC in 1934 and earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from Cornell University in 1938.
John proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. He moved to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey as Private in the U.S. Army and when he left for England and Scotland to advise on radar, he was promoted to 2nd and then 1st lieutenant.
At the end of the war he was sent to Hawaii, where was set up a new radar on the highest mountain. After he was discharged from the U.S. Army, he went to work for AT&T in California. Later in his career, he worked for Bell Laboratories in Holmdel.
After he retired in Columbus, Ohio, John moved back to New Jersey to be closer to family and friends.
Known as a loving and caring son, brother, husband, father and grandfather, John lived in and raised his five children in New Jersey, California and Ohio. He got so much joy from all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed world travel; and one of his favorite hobbies was train collecting and set-up.
He loved photography and was tech savvy all the way into his late 90’s, using his digital camera and computers to make his own greeting cards for family and friends.
Some of his favorite things were swimming at the beach and in his pool, feeding and watching birds, tinkering with electronics, growing tomatoes and making apple pie. John was a fun-loving, thoughtful man who enjoyed his long life.
He was predeceased by: his first wife Julia Ann Mattei; and his second wife Natalie (Dede) Bossert Heermans; his parents, John S. Somerville and Corrine; and his sisters, Corrine Repsold, Suzanne Faulkner and Carol Cory.
He is survived by: his five children, Jean Somerville Skinner, of Fort Jones, CA, Richard M. Somerville and wife Debbie, of Glencoe, MN, Thomas P. Somerville and wife Kim, of Middletown, Sarah Somerville and husband Rodney Jester, of Arden, DE, and Eleanor A. Somerville Trapp and husband Greg, of Columbus Ohio; his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by: his four step-children, Pat Martin, of Vero Beach, FL; Holly Smith, of Rumson, NJ; John Heermans, NY and Africa; and Chuck Heermans, Arizona; and their children and grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16 at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank.
A memorial service celebrating John’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at First Presbyterian Church at Red Bank, 255 Harding Rd. Burial will be private, at the discretion of the family.
Memorial donations may be made in John’s memory to American Red Cross Jersey Coast Chapter.
— Obituary, courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home