He was a graduate of St. Patrick's High School in Newburgh and Rochester Institute of Technology School of Printing. John was a devout Catholic and parishioner of St. Mary's Church in Washingtonville where he was a lector and daily Mass altar server.
He was president of Spear Printing Company and former editor and publisher of the Orange County Post, member and past president of the Mid-Hudson Graphic Arts Association. He was also a fifty-year member of the Village of Washingtonville Planning Board and was the founder and director of St. Mary's CYO Basketball of Washingtonville.
John is survived by his wife, Mary van Duynhoven; children: Michael and wife, Maria Spear of Washingtonville, Nancy Spear Owen and Ken Tschan of Goshen, Eileen Spear and husband, Roger Neath of Boston, MA; grandchildren: Christopher, Kane, Sophia Spear and Joseph, Dylan, Thomas Owen. He is also survived by sisters: Margaret Duane of Highland Mills and Marie Danna of Huffman, TX, and brothers: Elmer of Middletown, Joseph of Blooming Grove, and Howard of Newburgh; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his infant son, Steven and brothers: Edward and Michael Spear.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30th in St. Mary's Church, 42 Goshen Ave., Washingtonville, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1st in St. Mary's Church with burial to follow in St Mary's Cemetery.
Memorial gifts in John's memory may be made to St. Mary's CYO Basketball, PO Box 784, Washingtonville, NY 10992
For further info, directions or to leave a fond memory of John please visit our website at www.davidtfergusonfh.com
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