John J. Lawrence

John J. “Jack” Lawrence, of Bethlehem, PA passed away on December 27, 2013 in his home. He was 82.

Jack was married to Theresa “Terry” (Wash) Lawrence for 57 years.

Born in Bethlehem, Jack was the son of the late John J. Lawrence and the late Dorothy (Erdman) Lawrence. A 1949 graduate of Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School, Jack joined the U. S. Marine Corps at 19 and became the youngest staff sergeant in the Marines.

He earned his Bachelors degree in Education from Moravian College in Bethlehem and became a teacher at Liberty High School in Bethlehem.

Jack enjoyed a long career at the Allentown YMCA before retiring as the Associate Executive Director in 1992 after more than 20 years of devoted service.

He sat on the board of Bethlehem City Council for 20 years (1976 to 1996) and served as President from 1986 to 1989. Active in a myriad of Lehigh Valley growth programs, Jack was a member of several boards, including: the Bethlehem Area School Board (1969 to 1975), the Bethlehem Public Library Board (10 years), the Board of Trustees for Northampton Community College, the Bethlehem Vo-Tech Board, the Southside Historical Society, the Southside 1976 Committee, the 412 Commission, the Allentown Drug Commission and the Allentown Inner City Commission.

An avid sports fan and civic-activist, Jack was a member of the Bethlehem YMCA, Lehigh Southside Booster Club, the Liberty Alumni Chorus, the Bethlehem Club and the Tammany Democratic Club. He was a longtime referee for city basketball and an umpire for city softball leagues. He was a fan of all Philadelphia sports teams, Lehigh University, Penn State and the Boston Red Sox.

He will always be remembered as a devoted husband, dad, granddad and great granddad to his beloved family.

After retirement he learned to empty the dishwasher, take out the trash and food shop (smile)!

Jack Lawrence is survived by his loving family; wife, Terry, Jayne and her husband Robert Cressman, Jack and his wife Sue, Jenifer Lawrence Sinko, son-in-law Ed Sinko, Jim and his wife Aine, grandchildren, Julia (wife of Scott Lueker), Robert, Amy, Ethan, Gabriel and Jillian and great-grandchild, Noah.

He was predeceased by his brother, Richard Lawrence and granddaughter Lauren Cressman.

A visitation will be held at The Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018 on Monday, December 30, 2013 from 11 am to 2 pm with a service to immediately follow in the funeral home. Interment will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Bethlehem. Memorial contributions may be made to the YMCA of your choice and/or The Blind Assoc. 260 E. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018.

Cemetery
Fairview Cemetery
1501 N. New St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US

Visitation
Monday, December 30, 2013
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Service
Monday, December 30, 2013
2:00 PM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531