Obituary of John T. Theroux

John T. Theroux, 95, of South Orange, died peacefully on September 8, 2016, at Cape Cod Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was spending time at his summer home in Dennis. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Mass of the Resurrection at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect Street, South Orange, on Wednesday, September 14th at 9:30 a.m. Internment is at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. Visitation will be held at the Preston Funeral Home, 153 South Orange Avenue, South Orange on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Seton Hall Prep Scholarship Fund. Born in Clarksburg, W.Va, Mr. Theroux was the son of Ernest G. Theroux and Margaret M. Mulheran. He grew up in Brooklyn and moved to South Orange in 1947, to teach at Seton Hall Prep, where he met his future wife, Jane C. Fitzsimmons. He graduated from St. John's Prep in 1939, received his B.S. from St. John's University in 1942, and M.A. from New York University in 1947. He pursued doctoral studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. John enlisted in the United States Coast Guard immediately following his graduation from St. John's in 1942, and served as a Pharmacist Mate, 1st Class, Hospital Corps on an LST in the Pacific theatre until his separation from service in 1947. He taught Biology for one year before becoming SHP's Physics teacher for the next 38 years. He became Chair of the Prep's Science Department in 1952. He also taught English at Seton Hall University's then downtown Newark campus and served as Assistant Registrar at the University in South Orange for decades. He was awarded the McQuaid Medal for Distinguished Service to Seton Hall. John was predeceased by his beloved wife Jane C. Fitzsimmons in 1963, his sister Margaret and brother Ernest. He is survived by his daughter Mary Margaret Theroux, his son Thomas E. Theroux and his wife Sue, his grandchildren Jane Elizabeth Marte and her husband Joe, Thomas John "TJ" Theroux, John Philip "Jack" Vena, Brianna Martin and Alexa Harper. His great grandchildren are Gabriella, Connor Joseph "CJ" and Maeve Marte, Matthew Martin and Paige Harper. He also leaves his brother William G. Theroux and his wife Mary.