Obituary of John R. Gates

John R. Gates of Hopatcong passed away after a brief illness, Sunday, February 9, 2014 at St. Clare's Hospital, Dover. He was 94. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, John moved to NJ for employment with RCA. He discovered Lake Hopatcong where he spent many summers and first moved to Hopatcong as a permanent resident in 1948. Raising a family he moved to North Caldwell and still summered on Raccoon Island on the lake. After retirement he again moved back to Lake Hopatcong. Prior to his retirement, John was an electrical engineer with RCA in New York City, NY. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, a Master's Degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken and a Master's Degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge MA, where he was also a Sloan member. He was a long time member of the Westside United Methodist Church in Hopatcong, a member of the race committee, and past commodore of the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club and a member and past president of the Lake Hopatcong Rotary. He was always active in local community organizations. He is pre-deceased by his first wife Elizabeth in 1973 and his second wife Ruth in 2009. Devoted father of Janice G. Bushold and her husband, Jon and Robert W. Gates. Cherished grandfather of Aaron and Geoffrey Bushold, Joshua Gates and Johnnie Levin. Step-father of James, George and Richard Mears. Loving great-grandfather of Anders Gates, Graham Bushold, and Rhyann, Zack, and Derek Levin. A private family Prayer Service will be held at the Restland Memorial Park Chapel Mausoleum in East Hanover. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to favorite charities.