John J. Gutch

John J. Gutch, 92, of Hazlet, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his devoted family on Sunday, January 7, 2018.  John was born on September 11, 1925, in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he grew up.  A World War II combat veteran, he served aboard the destroyer USS Melvin and saw action in the Pacific at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. He remained friends with many of the crew members and regularly attended ship reunions.  After the war, he joined the Jersey City Police Department, reaching the rank of Captain. It was a point of great pride that he eventually commanded the precinct where he grew up. Later in his career, he served as the Chief of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s detectives, Public Safety Director in Asbury Park, and Hudson County Undersheriff. When he retired, he moved to Hazlet but made weekly visits to his beloved Jersey City.  He married “Kit” Porter in 1949, and together they raised eleven children. Five of his sons followed his footsteps as police officers.  John was a devout Catholic, a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Keyport, and he maintained ties with St. Patrick and St. Aloysius Churches, as well as St. Peter’s University, all in Jersey City.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Marie Goworek, in 2016. John is survived by his loving bride of 69 years, Kathleen, and ten loving children and their spouses: John Gutch Jr. and his wife, Linda, Edward Gutch and his wife, Bonnie, Charles Gutch and his wife, Annette, James Gutch and his wife, Maria, William Gutch and his wife, Rachel, Robert Gutch and his wife, Carolyn, Richard Gutch and his wife, Eileen, Mary Gutch, Theresa Kwiatkowski and her husband, Dr. Theodore Kwiatkowski, Kathleen Nestor and her husband, Joseph, and his dear son-in-law, John Goworek. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Adam and Susan Kwiatkowski, Edward Gutch and his wife, Jessica, Tiffany Ditzig and her husband, Stephen, CJ and Daniel Gutch, John Goworek and his wife, Jessica, Andrew Goworek and his wife, Erin, James and Alexis Gutch, Julianne Nestor, Liam, Kayla, Jared, Matthew and Evan Gutch, Sheena Licata and her husband, Chris, Ian, Brighid, Tadhg and Zane Gutch, along with his adored great grandchildren, Jason, Nicholas, Mila and Summer.  John will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 4:00 to 9:00 PM at the Shore Point Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 3269 State Highway/Route 35 North, Hazlet, New Jersey 07730.  A final visitation/viewing will be offered on Wednesday morning, January 10, 2018 from 9:45 to 11:15 AM at St. Patrick Church, 492 Bramhall Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey 07304.  A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30 AM at St. Patrick Church.  Following the mass, interment and military honors will take place at Holy Name Cemetery, 823 West Side Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey 07306.  In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Rev. Edward Heavey, SJ Endowed Scholarship at Saint Peter’s University, 2641 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07306, or, to the Sisters of Charity, Convent Station, New Jersey 07960.  For information, directions, or to send condolences to the family, please visit, www.shorepointfh.com.

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