John W. Love, Jr.

John W. "Jack" Love, 90, passed away February 7, 2025, in his home surrounded by the love of his family and friends. He was born June 5, 1934, in Passaic, NJ and grew up in nearby Rutherford, NJ. Jack graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1952, where he participated in football, basketball, baseball and was captain of each of those teams as a senior. He attended Wagner College on Staten Island, NY, and despite great athletic prowess and a very successful freshman year, his promising career as an athlete was cut short by injuries.

 After Wagner, he coached football at the high school level where he and the teams he coached were also quite accomplished. In 1958 while tending bar for the summer at the Jersey Shore, he met Jane Farrell where they quickly fell in love and were married on October 4th of that year. Jack completed his bachelor's degree in business from Fairleigh Dickinson University and began sales in the floor covering industry shortly thereafter.

 Jack was quickly recognized as an exceptional business talent and became an executive in his 30's. He was a visionary with exceptional intellect, widely admired for his leadership, decisiveness, perseverance, demand for excellence, integrity, charisma, and humor within his industry and among his peers.

 Jack's early career success required the Love family to relocate several times. This included stops in Long Island, Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, and back to New Jersey, before finally settling in Atlanta, where his three children, Bill, Tom and Nancy, spent most of their formative years.

 He retired with his loving wife Jane to Atlantic Beach, FL in 2000. He expressed gratitude for being surrounded by his family, with his children, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, their spouses, and his great grandchildren and extended family. He loved people and lived a life full of many meaningful and valued friendships. Even in his retirement his natural ability to authentically connect with people made him beloved in his community. He is remembered for his honesty, personal loyalty, and utmost integrity.

 He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 66 years, Jane. He is survived by his sons; Bill (Mary), Tom (Monica), daughter Nancy, grandchildren; Katherine (Patrick), Jack (Kalle), great grandchildren; Alex and Charlie, and his brother Greg (Susan).

In celebration of his life, a Catholic Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, February 20th at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Jacksonville Beach, with a reception at Jack and Jane's home in Atlantic Beach to follow.