John Patrick Sharkey

Southbury - John "Jack" Sharkey, 92, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family in his home on May 10, 2021. He was the loving husband of the late Barbara Fellows Sharkey for 61 years.

Born April 22, 1929 in Syracuse, NY, he was the son of the late Thomas and Catherine (Griffin) Sharkey, the youngest and the last surviving child of five.

Jack started his career as a salesman for Crucible Steel Industries in Syracuse, and after serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he returned to Syracuse where he met and married his soulmate and life partner, Barbara Fellows. They moved to Old Bridge, New Jersey where they made a loving home for their three children and lived there for 45 years. He earned his BA in English from Rutgers University in 1965. Retiring from Crucible after 25 years, Jack finished his career as Vice President at Westig of America, Inc. and then he and Barbara moved to Heritage Village in Southbury, Connecticut for their retirement years.

Jack was a devoted Catholic and a member of Sacred Heart Church. He had a passion for life and lived it to the fullest. Jack and Barbara had many friends and enjoyed spending time with them. They loved traveling with both family and friends and loved entertaining at their home. Jack was an avid movie fan, a trivia buff and always ready to watch his Jeopardy at 7:00pm. He loved to take on friends and family in a competitive game of Scrabble as well as a family and grandchildren card game favorite, Spite and Malice. Jack brought joy and laughter to all who knew him; the smartest, wittiest and most lovable guy you knew! He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather (of 13) and great grandfather (of 7). He was lovingly known as "JP" to his grands. More than anything, he loved spending time with his family.

Jack leaves behind his cherished children; son, Daniel Sharkey and wife Anne from Southbury, Connecticut, and daughters Jill Sharkey Kimball and husband Neal from The Villages, Florida and Beth Sharkey Flynn and husband, John from Melrose, Massachusetts. Jack is also survived by Michael and his wife Patti Dallas Sharkey who was like a son to Jack and Barbara for many years. His 13 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren who will always remember their "JP" are; Matthew and wife Mandy and their sons Liam, Hunter and Tucker; Sarah and husband Evan, and their children Milly, Fiona and Theo; John, Catherine, Caitlin, Maggie, Kyle, Jimmy, Kara, Thomas and his wife Ali and their son Owen; Joseph, Eileen and Mary Cate. Michael's two daughters Lauren (husband Jack and son Connor) and Lizzie will also miss their "JP". He was lovingly referred to as the "Patri-Shark" of his large extended family of nieces and nephews who celebrated his family legacy at numerous reunions over the years.

Services will be private.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Church, Southbury, Connecticut. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at www.jdrf.org.
 

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