Obituary of Edwin C Jennings

Edwin Charles Jennings, 3rd of Lincoln Park, New Jersey died Sunday, October 11, 2015. A resident of Lincoln Park since 1969, he served as a member of the Planning Board of the Borough of Lincoln Park in the 1980s. Ed was born in Paterson, NJ, on February 25, 1940 to the late Dora Christina (nee Wagenheim) & the late Edwin C. Jennings, Jr. The family moved to Prospect Park when he was five; Ed was a proud graduate of Hawthorne High School, Class of 1958 (and he still enjoyed getting together with his fellow Bears for their monthly class dinners). Ed attended Duke University to play football and major in biology, yet left after his first year to enter the service. Ed truly loved his country. He was a proud United States Marine from 1959-1965 serving with then Secretary of State Dean Rusk, and as an Embassy Guard in Poland & Germany. He was an active life member of the American Legion Post 279 and served as post commander from 1997-2000. Ed could often be found at the Legion Hall assisting with their various programs & events, or sharing a joke, enjoying a vodka martini, selling Christmas trees, or dancing the twist. Known for his deep, booming voice, Ed was a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees, the New York [Football] Giants, and the Duke Blue Devils. Until his health deteriorated, he also loved to play ball; playing softball with the Over the Hill Gang and the NJ Senior Softball League. In addition, Ed loved convincing others to love sports: from coaching his children’s baseball and softball teams to coaching a generation of L.P. Raiders football players. Ed worked for State Farm Mutual Insurance Company for 43 years, primarily in the High Risk Auto Division at the Northeast Regional Office (Wayne, then Parsippany, NJ). He remained an active member of the State Farm Retirees Association. Predeceased by his loving wife in 1994, Pauline Theresa (nee Jacobovics), whom he married in April 1967, Ed is survived by his beloved children—son Andrew (Drew) Jennings and his wife Jessica of Dowingtown, PA, and his daughter, Dr. Karlene Noel Jennings of Williamsburg, VA; sister Faith and her husband Thomas (Tom) Baird of Palm Harbor, FL, and their daughters—Amy, Lisa, and Pamela and their families; sister-in-law Kathryn and her husband Daniel (Danny) Petrow of Lincoln Park, and their daughter—Deanna and her family—and their son Daniel—his dear friend, (fellow Yankees fan), and only nephew; and numerous cousins including Joseph (Joe) DeLuccia and his wife Marilyn of North Haledon, and their children. To honor Ed’s memory and in lieu of flowers, contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, National Museum of the Marine Corps/Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Toys for Tots, the American Legion Post 279 Scholarship Fund, or another charity of your choice would be appreciated. Semper Fidelis. Visitation at Keri Memorial Funeral Home, 125 Main Street, Lincoln Park, NJ is Thursday, October 15, 2015 from 2pm-4pm and 7pm-9pm; Services with military honors are Friday, October 16, 2015 at 11am.