Obituary: John J. Oakes, Jr.
On Dec. 17, age 63, lifelong Haddonfield resident, beloved husband of Laura (nee Haley) and loving father of triplets Christina H., Brendan H. and Devin H. Oakes all of Haddonfield, brother of Patricia Milligan Swain, of Cape May, Mary Jo DeCoursey of Haddonfield and the late Dorothy Stallings and Joan Dawicki. Also survived by many devoted nieces, nephews and cousins.
Oakes graduated from Camden Catholic High School in 1967, Glassboro State College with a B.S. in Speech and Theater, Temple University with a Masters in Educational Media and finally from Rowan University with a Masters in Educational Administration. For over 40 years he had been an English teacher at Haddon Township High School and a teacher and supervisor in the Clayton School District and at Camden Catholic High School. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Haddonfield where he had served as a member of the Church Council and a participant and coach of the softball team. Additionally, he was a member of the Eastern Collegiate Football Officials Association from 1981 to 2006 and the N.J. Football Officials Association. He coached Little League and Pigtail Softball and was a Cub Scout leader in Haddonfield.
Oakes’s family will receive friends on Wednesday, Dec. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Kain-Murphy Funeral Services, 15 West End Avenue, Haddonfield, and again on Thursday, Dec. 22, 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Wood Lane and Wayne Avenue, Haddonfield, N.J. 08033. His service will follow at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. Interment, private. Memorial donations may be made in Oakes’s name to the church at the above address or to Camden Catholic High School Scholarship Fund, 300 Cuthbert Boulevard, Cherry Hill, N.J. 08002.
