Obituary of Dr. John J. Qualter

Dr. John Joseph Qualter (Jack)

Physician, Husband, Father, Grandfather

Beloved Husband, Father, and Grandfather, Dr. John J. Qualter (Jack), resident of Warren, NJ, formerly of Short Hills and Long Beach Island, passed away on May 26, 2023. Born in the Bronx, New York to John and Cecelia Qualter on July 9, 1932, Jack graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School where he excelled in running cross country. He continued his love of running for the rest of his life. 

Jack went to Fordham University, got his B.S. in Pharmacy, and worked as a licensed pharmacist in Monroe, NY for several years. He went on to medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in St. Louis, MO, but was commissioned after one year to be a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Jack was sent to Laredo, TX where he completed his jet flight training, giving him countless stories that filled him with pride. He spent the next two years as a fighter pilot stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX where he was promoted to Captain. 

After his service, Jack completed his medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and graduated in 1961. He completed his medical internship at Brighton Hospital in Portland, ME and became a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. 

Jack established his family medical practice in Maplewood, NJ in 1962 and treated tens of thousands of patients who cherished his compassionate care and light-hearted jokes. Jack enjoyed family medicine because it allowed him to treat a diverse group of people and a variety of illnesses, including delivering hundreds of babies when he began. Jack was the Chairman of Family Practice at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ and was one of the first honorees in “Top Doctors” in New Jersey Magazine in 1993. 

Besides his parents, Jack is predeceased by his sister Cecelia Connelly. Jack married his wife Sally, the love of his life. They were married for 55 years, lived in Short Hills for 40 years, and spent summers in Long Beach Island. He will be deeply missed by his four children, Karen Carolonza (Stephen), Alison Qualter-Berna, Jill Chisholm, and John Qualter (Dr. Erin). He adored his 12 grandchildren, prioritizing all of their activities, sports games, and academic achievements: Todd, Sara, and Kate Carolonza, Maddie, Sydney, and Jack Berna, P.J., Jack, and Addison Chisholm, Sienna, Mia and Hudson Qualter. 

Jack was very active in the community of Millburn Township. He was elected to the Millburn Board of Education for two terms in the 1980s and served on the Religious Education Board at Saint Rose of Lima in Short Hills. He coached youth soccer, girls’ softball, and Little League baseball. A huge fan of all sports, Jack was happiest watching baseball, especially his beloved New York Mets. 

Jack taught himself how to play the piano and loved to play for a crowd. He especially enjoyed tap dancing and was the Master of Ceremony at many events. Jack was smart, kind, gentle, fair, giving, and an all-around great guy type of person. He always maintained a positive and youthful spirit. The best word to describe Jack is selfless, always wanting to hear from others first. He had a great sense of humor, made friends with everyone he met, and loved to make people laugh, including his patients. His favorite expression was “laughter is the best medicine,” a phrase he not only spoke, but embodied to the fullest every single day.  

Visitation will be held at St. Rose of Lima Church, 50 Short Hills Avenue in Short Hills, NJ on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 from 4-8pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Rose of Lima Church on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his name to the Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Research and Development Dept, 95 Old Short Hills Road, West Orange, NJ 07052 (rwjbh.org) or the Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Processing Center, P.O. Box 758542, Topeka, KS 66675-8542 (pva.org). For more information or to send condolences please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com.