John T. Mitchell, Jr.

John (Jack) Thomas Mitchell, Jr., age 85, of Venice, FL, passed away on December 21, 2014. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on July 14, 1929 to John and Ella Mitchell. Jack was a veteran of the US Army, and was a Bronze Star recipient, serving during the Korean War. His undergraduate work was completed at Niagara University. Niagara University recognized his service to his country, the business world, and his community activities by induction into the Niagara University ROTC Hall of Fame. Jack authored ""Niagara University and the Korean War"", a collective memoir of the experiences of Niagara Alumni who served in the military during the Korean War. He also initiated the Korean War Memorial on the campus from conception to execution. He attended Harvard University Business School and earned a Master's Degree in History from Montclair State University. Jack was also selected as a candidate for a PhD in History at the State University of New York, Stony Brook. Jack worked in Sales and Marketing for several food service product companies, retiring as Vice President of Marketing from Nabisco, Inc. In 1988 he was selected as Key Person in the Industry by the Foodservice Manufacturers Association. He served as the President of the Village Players Community Theater in Bergen County, NJ, President of the Independence Day Association of Glen Rock, NJ, manager of the Morris County United Way, Vice President of the Morris County Boy Scouts o America, and was co-founder of the Mt. Lakes Youth Soccer Association. He also authored another book, ""One Irish Family's Trajectory from a Cop's Beat in the Stix to the Executive Suite in New York"". Surviving family members include his wife of 51 years, Marilyn, of Venice; son Douglas J. Mitchell (Susan) and sons Morgan, Matthew and Owen of Highlands Ranch, CO; daughter Denise Goodbar (William) and sons Mitchell, Reid, Spencer and Bradford of Mountain Lakes, NJ; and sister Betty Mitchell Laevey. He was preceded in death by his sister Virginia Mitchell Tierney in 2014. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Epiphany Cathedral in January, 2015 with burial to follow at Sarasota National Cemetery.