John D. Cleary

Neshanic Station, NJ

John David Cleary, 56, of Neshanic Station, NJ, passed away suddenly on Thursday, November 23, 2023, at St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson, NJ. Born in Kansas City, MO, he was a Martinsville, NJ resident for most of his early life before moving to Neshanic Station 23 years ago.

John graduated from Bridgewater-Raritan High School East, class of 1985, earned a bachelor's degree in finance and economics from the University of Scranton in 1989, and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Corporate Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1994.

John was Sentry Salvage's Principal Consultant and co-founder for the past 30 years. He volunteered as President of the Somerville High School Boys Lacrosse Booster Club from September 2018 to August 2020 and the Somerville High School Girls Soccer Booster Club from December 2019 to February 2023.

John was an accomplished soccer player and continued playing throughout his adult life. In high school, he was a three-year varsity letterman, all-county, all-conference, first-team all-state team member, and a Somerset County Championship team member in 1982. Shootout for Soldiers is a 24-hour lacrosse game to benefit veterans, in which John participated, and he also played for the Central Jersey Lacrosse team for the past ten years.

John was an all-around athlete who enjoyed lacrosse, golf, skiing, and snowboarding. He took any chance he had to have a pick-up game in the backyard with the kids. John enjoyed home renovations and hosting family celebrations. John was extremely generous with his time and offered a helping hand to many. He will be missed tremendously by all who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by his father, John Michael Cleary. Surviving is his beloved wife of 23 years, Lisa Cleary; two dear sons, Jack and Tom, and two precious daughters, Emily, and Lizzie; his mother, Diane Cleary, and mother-in-law Patricia Bradley and father-in-law, Bill Dittmann; four dear brothers, Robert and wife Abigail of Ithaca, NY, Gerard and wife Tammy of Martinsville, NJ, James of Bedminster, NJ, and Thomas and wife Kerin of Allentown, NJ; three loving sisters, Eileen Cleary of Westfield, NJ, Jacqueline Cleary of Westfield, NJ, and Marilyn and husband James Stephenson of Bridgewater, NJ; a brother-in-law, Eric Dittmann and wife Lara of Chatham, NJ; and sister-in-law, Heather McBrierty, of Ringoes, NJ; and nineteen cherished nieces and nephews, Caitlin, Ann, Steven, Emma, Rosa, Kennard, Lauren, Grace, Aidan, Sean, Brian, Ryan, Gabriella, Kate, Evie, Molly, Cooper, Maddie, and Finn.

Viewing will be held Wednesday, November 29, 2023, from 4-8 pm at the Branchburg Funeral Home, 910 US Highway 202 South, Branchburg, NJ 08876.

Funeral services will start with a prayer at the funeral home at 8:30 am on Thursday, November 30, 2023, followed by a 10:00 am funeral liturgy at St. Joseph's R.C. Church, 34 Yorktown Road Hillsborough, New Jersey 08844.

Committal will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/