John “Jay” Love of Lakewood, NJ passed away peacefully on December 10, 2021 at the age of 85. In his retirement, Jay and his wife Mary Patricia moved from Brooklyn, NY to The Fairways in Lakewood, NJ where they enjoyed an active social life and made many new lasting friendships. He was a devoted family man, a man of faith, and a proud veteran who loved his country. He was an avid golfer and long suffering NY Giants fan who loved to travel the world with his family and friends. His countless trips to Ireland and South Bend, IN for Notre Dame football weekends were among his favorites.
Growing up in Brooklyn, he attended St. Teresa of Avila grammar school, where he met many of his life long friends. His dedication to St. Teresa’s was evident by his many years as an active member of their alumni association and by organizing charity golf tournaments on behalf of the Carmelites. After spending his formative years at St. Joseph’s Juniorate in Peabody, MA, Jay enlisted in the Army and went on to serve his country in the Korean War. In 1963, leaning on his experience in Korea, he followed in the footsteps of his father and began his career with the NYPD. Jay retired as a detective in 1984 after working tours in the auto, homicide, and sex crimes divisions. He then began his next career with The First Bank of Chicago working as an investigator until his retirement in 1996. For 33 years, he and Mary Patricia raised their family in St. Bernard’s parish in Brooklyn.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, who will be greatly missed. Jay is predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Mary Patricia, parents John and Catherine Love and brother Robert. He is survived by his four children, Kathleen Cali (Michael) of Marlboro, NJ, Mary Miller (James), of Malverne, NY, John Love (Kara) of Saratoga Springs, NY and Rosemary Resker (John) of Rockaway Park, NY, his grandchildren Michael, Matthew (Andrea), Christopher and Brian Cali, Elizabeth and Sarah Miller, Timothy (Lauren), Kate and Jillian Love, John, Thomas and James Resker, his great grandsons Theodore “Theo” Love and Theodore “Teddy” Cali, and sisters Patricia Donahue and Jane Kabelka. Jay was a beloved Uncle to his many nieces and nephews and treasured friend to many.
Visitation will be from 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 14 at the D’Elia Funeral Home, Route 70 & Vermont Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08701. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, December 15 at 9:15 am at St. Luke’s Church, 1674 Old Freehold Road, Toms River, NJ 08755. Interment will follow at St. Charles Cemetery, 2015 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735.
The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Tunnel To Towers Foundation (t2t.org) or NYPD With Arms Wide Open (nypdwawo.org).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.DEliaFuneralHome.com for the Love family.
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