Flemington - John Francis Althamer, age 73, passed away on May 4, 2020, at home in Flemington, NJ.

John was born on December 12, 1946, to Joseph and Catherine (Cranley) Althamer in Glen Ridge, NJ.

He lived for the first 4 years in Montclair, NJ before moving with the family to Avon-by-Sea, where he grew up and graduated from St. Rose High School in Belmar, NJ. After graduating from Newark College of Engineering, he started working at New Jersey Bell, then Bell Atlantic to Verizon, in a career that lasted 43 years, when he retired in 2013. He was well liked and respected by his colleagues, many of whom became longtime friends.

John met his wife, Ronnie, while working at New Jersey Bell and they married on Nov. 29, 1980. They moved to Flemington, NJ in 1984 and welcomed their first child, daughter, Catherine (Katie) in 1986 and son, Tim, in 1991. In the early years, they enjoyed their Disney vacations and time in Cape May, NJ. As the kids became more involved in their sports, John did too. He coached Katie in basketball and softball with the Flemington Flames and Tim in football, baseball and as a band parent in High School. He was their biggest supporter then and throughout their lives.

John was an avid skier, starting in his early days at work and continuing throughout the years. He enjoyed this with Katie and Tim in later years. John loved his home and working on it inside and out. He could do or make anything he set out to do and loved doing it. His favorite outside job was splitting and stacking the wood that kept our home warm and cozy each year. Fly high Woodpecker!! Another of John's favorites was the yearly family day trip to Avon-by-the Sea, going by his childhood house and reminiscing throughout the town. This was always topped off by dinner at Kelly's Restaurant in Neptune and his favorite meal, the Reuben. John also enjoyed taking Tim fishing on the Miss Belmar Princess. He had worked on the original Miss Belmar while in college.

John was predeceased by his parents, Joe and Kay, and his sister, Bette. John is survived by his loving wife, Veronica, (Ronnie) nee: McSorley, his beloved daughter, Katie and her husband, Bill Cupitt, his beautiful grand-daughter, Olivia Rose, his loving son, Tim and his future wife, Emily, his faithful and loving canine companion and buddy, Teddy, his loving brother, Joe, loving niece, Kristen, husband, Rob Koch and beloved great-niece, Cathleen, his sister-in-law, Rosemary Sheehy and husband, John and their families, his loving Aunt Pati and the Cranley Families and special friends, Roger and Joanne Williams, and his childhood and longtime friend, George Bodeep.

John will be laid to rest at St. Magdalen de Pazzi Roman Catholic Cemetery in Flemington. A memorial mass and celebration of John's life will be held at a later date.