John ‘Jack’ Loversidge – Donora
John “Jack” Loversidge, 74, of Donora, formerly of Neptune, N.J., left this earthly plane on Saturday, July 24, 2021. He was born in Long Branch, N.J., the son of Jack and Dorothy Loversidge. He graduated from Oakland Street School and Red Bank High School in Red Bank, N.J. Jack attended Miami Dade University in Miami, Fla., Monmouth University in Long Branch, N.J., and graduated from California University of Pennsylvania. He also completed graduate courses at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Mr. Loversidge began his service to the state of New Jersey by working for the Parks System at Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold, N.J. Following that, he spent 30 years working for the Division of Youth and Family Services, becoming a supervisor at the Asbury Park office. Over the years, he spent many nights and weekends working on the New Jersey Child Abuse Hotline in Trenton, N.J. He was a champion for neglected and abused children throughout the state. He was also a New Jersey state-certified notary public. After retiring, he worked for several years for the Asbury Park Press. Jack LOVED sports! Through the years, he jogged daily on the Belmar boardwalk or on the trails of Shark River Park. He lifted weights before work at Jack LaLane or on his lunch hour in his mother’s basement. He was an asset to the DYFS softball team and played football every Sunday in Shark River Park for many years. At one time, he coached CYO basketball at Holy Innocents Parish in Neptune, N.J. Jack was also a New Jersey state-certified umpire. He was a die-hard New York Giants and Yankees fan for the entirety of his life. After moving to Pennsylvania, he learned to love the Steelers as well. Surviving to cherish Jack’s memory are his devoted wife of 50 years, Patricia Cohill Loversidge; his beloved children, Jaki Barclay of Charleroi, Tara Loversidge and Jason Nixon, both of Ocean Grove, N.J., and Trenna Loversidge of Keyport, N.J.; his precious grandchildren, Ariel, Aurora and James Barclay of Charleroi; his siblings, Barbara Boas and Steve Hecht, both of Red Bank, N.J., Bruce Loversidge and Marylou Schmidt of Philadelphia, Pa., and Avalon, N.J., and Patty West of Jackson, N.J., and her children; and his wife’s siblings and their families, Paula Plowey of Twinsburg, Ohio, Carole Seader of Donora, Cathy and Joe Cohill of Volant, Pa., Sherri Jaskolowski of Cameron, N.J., and Sheila Cohill of Donora. He was predeceased by his son and “Giants Buddy,” Charles Barclay of Charleroi; and his “besties” and brothers, Bill Seader of Donora, Lee West of Jackson, N.J., and Chuck Plowey of Twinsburg, Ohio. There’s a party! Friends and relatives are invited to gather at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, July 29, 2021, at the Donora campus of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish (formerly Our Lady of the Valley Parish) for a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian burial. It will be officiated by Jack’s revered friend, chaplain and parochial vicar, the Rev. Douglas Boyd. Arrangements have been entrusted to ANTHONY L. MASSAFRA FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE INC., 40 Second St. Ext., Carroll Township/Donora, PA 15033, 724-379-6900. To share a condolence, please visit www.massafrafuneralhome.com.
