John J. Passuth, aged 89, passed away on November 5, 2024 in Toms River, New Jersey. John was born on September 19, 1935, in Ossining, New York and grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey. He and his family moved to Toms River and lived there since 1969.

John is survived by the love of his life of 70 years, his wife Dolores Passuth, and his children: Linda Dudley, Tricia Passuth, Kathleen and Tom Bombery, and John and Jennifer Passuth. He was blessed with seven grandchildren, Melissa, John, Stephanie (Nick) Hillary, Donny (Kelsey), Reese, and Christopher, and seven great-grandchildren, Sebastian, Isaiah, Maddox, Lorelai, Mason, Mariah, Elaina, and number eight to welcome the world in February. John had a very special relationship with his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and Janet Dziuba. He will be missed by his many nieces and nephews, and all the friends he made along the way. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Helen Passuth, and his sister, Helena (Honey) Current.

John proudly served in the United States Army. He was a third-generation bricklayer who was known for his skilled craftsmanship and his work still stands throughout the tri-state area. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt, fish, crab, and clam. His love of the Pine Barrens, Barnegat Bay, and dog training was shared with multiple generations.

John was honored by the Cultural & Heritage Commission of Ocean County and received the prestigious Hurley Conklin Award (https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/WebContentFiles/cf1409d2-8739-49e5-a3f6-91c17627d976.pdf). He was a passionate and respected dog trainer and often said, "I come alive training dogs."

John always had a toothpick in his mouth and a dog by his side. He could never pass up a garage sale or a pile of ‘treasures’ at the curb. His children carry in their hearts his words of wisdom and lessons shared. They learned the artful skill of throwing a bumper and pulling a crab line in, and embraced his words, "trust me". They know he is the smartest man in the world and they will always “keep their wits about them”.

In his later years, John appreciated putting his feet up in his big chair, a hot towel shave, and spending time looking at his beautiful wife.

A service to honor John's life will be held at Kedz Funeral Home on November 12, 2024, from 11:00 to 12:45 pm. Memorial donations may be made to Save the Barnegat Bay, 117 Haines Road, Toms River, NJ 08753, or the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, 17 Pemberton Rd., South Hampton, NJ 08088. For more details, please visit www.savebarnegatbay.org or www.pinelandsalliance.org.