John (Jack) Montecalvo
John (Jack) Montecalvo, 93, of Hammonton died peacefully on January 8, 2021.
Jack graduated from Hammonton High in 1945 where he was a star athlete. He later continued his education at Rutgers Turf Management School. Jack worked as a golf course superintendent for many years in New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. He was one of three superintendents selected to represent the USA at the International Turf Symposium in England, where he and fellow superintendents competed in golf against Germany. He later started his own business “Jersey Turf” and traveled up and down the east coast with his machinery in tow, providing deep-tine aeration to many golf courses, sports fields and college campus fields. Later he sold his business and retired. Jack was a sports aficionado and was a diehard Philadelphia sports team fan especially the Eagles. He loved to golf and did so often until he was physically unable. Jack and Rose would host an annual “Birthday Dinner” in January for all his golf buddies, which consisted of all homemade Italian specialties made by Rosie and served by his daughters. As time passed, the “Birthday Dinner” turned into the “Spaghetti Open” where golf course superintendents would compete at golf in nicer weather and then have a spaghetti dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant. Jack and Rosie would still provide the meatballs and sausage for the dinner. Rose and family would like to thank the caring professionals of The Samaritan Center at Voorhees for their compassionate and excellent care of Jack during his brief stay.
Jack is predeceased by his daughter, Adele Montecalvo in 2004; parents, John Montecalvo and Rose O’Connell; his sister, Roseanne; and brother, Alfred Curcio.
Surviving are his loving wife of 72 years, Rose Montecalvo (nee Mercanto); his children, Linda (Ernie) Phillips, Jackie (Dan) Molinowski and Michele (Doug) Coffman; five grandchildren and two step-grandchildren, Geoffrey (Eve), Stephanie, E.J. (Ken), Kelly(James), Casey(Matt), Megan and Mark (Jess) Molinowski. He is the great-grandfather to Gabriel (Michaela), Noah and step-great grandfather to Logan and Harper, and uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on January 16, 2021 from 10 a.m. to noon at the LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home and Crematory, 441 White Horse Pike, Atco, N.J., where a memorial service will begin at noon. The visitation and service will be livestreamed and will be available to be viewed by going to www.lpwoosterfuneralhome.com, click on the obituary, click on tribute wall and click on the livestream. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or visit www.stjude.org/memorial.
Arrangements made by LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home.