LACEY, NJ — Lacey has lost one of its icons. Former Mayor John C. Parker has died at the age of 88, according to his obituary.
“His leadership, dedication and love for our community have left a lasting mark on Lacey Township,” town officials said Thursday. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and the entire community during this difficult time.”
Parker was originally from Forked River and his roots lie in the township. The Parker family history dates back to the 18th century in Lacey and Waretown and his father was the first president of the Lacey Township Republican Club, according to his obituary.
“John Parker possessed tremendous knowledge and wisdom, which he used to effectively serve his community,” the 9th Legislative District (Sen. Carmen Amato, Asm. Brian Rumpf and Asm. Greg Myhre) said in a statement. “To say the least, John was tenacious when advocating for the interests of his constituents and had an enviable reputation for never mincing words or wasting time when an issue needed to be addressed.”
RELATED: Lacey Township names John Parker honorary mayor for 2021
Parker was born on February 28, 1936, and attended the local two-class school (now the Old Schoolhouse Museum) until he transferred to the Toms River School District in sixth grade.
After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1958, Parker married Ruth Scully and raised three children in Forked River.
During his career, Parker served as mayor of Lacey Township six times. He helped establish the Lacey Township Police Department, where he rose from officer to sergeant, served as president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #10, and brought the nuclear power plant to town. He was also Lacey Township’s first historian.
Parker was a founding member of the Lacey Municipal Utilities Authority and the Environmental Committee. He also served as chairman of the Ocean County Utilities Authority for over 40 years, including 25 years as a member of the Ocean County Finance Team. He was president of the Good Luck Cemetery and served on the boards of the 1st National Bank of Toms River and Citizens State Bank, according to his obituary.
According to his obituary, he was also “impressive” in the real estate business and founded construction companies.
“Let’s not forget the big game expeditions to Montana and just know that we will always remember John as an old friend, a loving family member, a boss who got the job done and an all-around good person,” the obituary said.
For viewing and burial information, see his obituary. In lieu of flowers, donations in Parker’s name may be sent to Popcorn Park Zoo, PO Box 43, Forked River, NJ 08731.
“John’s good advice was always welcome and, true to his character, he was always there when needed, no matter the situation. Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with John’s family, friends and colleagues who were privileged to love and know him,” said Amato, Rumpf and Myhre. “While we will certainly miss John dearly, we take comfort in the fact that he lived a long, full and distinguished life.”
