In Memory of

John J. Dickerson, Jr.

August 21, 1923 - February 27, 2016

Obituary

John J. Dickerson, Jr., 92, died peacefully on February 27,2016, at Brittany Pointe Estates. John was born August 21,1923, to John J. Dickerson and Henrietta Rund Dickerson. He was raised in Palisades Park, NJ, and attended local schools, graduating from Leonia HS in 1941. He attended New York University until joining the Army Air Corps in 1942. He completed his degree in Aeronautical Engineering with the NYU Class of 1948, following his honorable discharge from the US Army.

John was a member of the Flying Tigers during WWII. He flew many missions in the China Theater and among the medals he was awarded were the Air Medal, with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak leaf Cluster and the Chinese Government Breast Order of Yun Hui.

John joined the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in July 1948. He served for 37 years and held increasingly responsible positions in airport management at all Port Authority airports, including becoming Director of Operations at JFK Airport and General Manager of NJ Airports, including Newark and Teterboro, and Assistant Director of Aviation. He was a past president of the American Association of Airport Executives.

John served as Past President of the Englewood Hospital Association and was a member of the Board of Trustees for 40 years. He was a former Trustee of the Palisades Park Board of Education, a member of the Caterpillar Club, the Hump Pilots Association, and the Port Authority Retirees Association.

John fell in love with Alice Russhon, a fellow Leonia HS graduate, and following his return from WWII they married. Their life together lasted over 69 years. They bought a home in Palisades Park and raised five children. The family spent many summers at Lindy Lake in West Milford, NJ, and in later years John and Alice moved to Pennington, NJ and spent 16 years enjoying retirement. He and Alice were residents of Brittany Pointe Estates together for 15 years until her death in April 2015. John remained at BPE and was well loved by all.

John was a man of integrity and great humor and a loving husband and father. He was a faithful communicant of St. Michael's RC Church in Palisades Park and St. James in Pennington, NJ.
Survivors include his children Barbara Closs (Richard) of Harvard, MA, Kathleen Jascott (Ron) of Plano, TX, John E. Dickerson (Laurie) of Belvidere NJ, and George Dickerson (Sohelia) of Wallingford, CT. In addition to his wife, Alice, a daughter, Ellen M. Dickerson, predeceased him in 2007. John is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, his brother, Robert W. Dickerson of Portland, ME, and 7 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Doris Dickerson Jachens.

The family would like to thank the Staff at Willow Brook Court for their care of John. A memorial service will be held at Brittany Pointe Estates, Lansdale PA on Friday, March 11, 2016 at 2:00 PM, under the direction of Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home. Chaplain Darryl Lang and Pastor Doug Rodgers will officiate.