John Drexell Gregory

John Drexell Gregory left us suddenly and all too soon on the morning of January 14, 2017. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara (Hills) Gregory, daughters, Kathy Schwartz and husband Jim of Ridgewood, NJ, Kelly Shumate and husband Alan of Midlothian VA, his son Brian Gregory and wife Randi of Midlothian, VA, five beautiful and loving granddaughters, Kaitlyn, Kiera, & Megan Schwartz, Peyton & Noah Shumate, and his companion and best friend Duffer. His was a life of love and achievement beginning in Jersey City on August 4th, 1947. He graduated Ridgefield Park, NJ before matriculating to Fairleigh Dickinson University. After completing his undergraduate degree, he studied for and received his Master’s Degree from John Jay College. With an ever-present sense of duty, John was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army before achieving the rank of 1st Lieutenant. After the army, John worked for NYPD’s Dept. of Investigation before serving his country yet again in the Secret Service for 24 years in several capacities including the Joint Terrorist Task Force, Counterfeit Squad, Special Agent for White House Access, & Inspector. John was part of the rescue efforts after the World Trade Center bombing in 1993. After serving as the VP of Security for Master Card International, John was again called into service to head up the Federal Air Marshalls for Newark International Airport. John was also a servant to the communities he lived in as an officer for the Special Police Force in Haworth, NJ and as a Volunteer Firefighter for the St. James Fire Department. Besides his wife and family, John had three other well-known loves in his life; golf, dogs, & the NY Yankees. John Gregory was the patriarch of his family and all looked to him as a beacon of wisdom and few made critical decisions in their lives without first consulting him. Called home to God, he leaves behind a great many that will miss him dearly, but also take some comfort in that they have been bestowed a great blessing to have had their lives intertwine with such an inspirational, beloved, and truly great man. Family and Friends are welcome to visit on Friday from 4-8pm at Volk Leber Funeral Home, 268 Kinderkamack Rd., Oradell. Funeral service will be on Saturday 9am from the funeral home followed by a 10am Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart Church, Haworth. Interment to follow at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the NJ Sharing Network, www.njsharingnetwork.org and/or The Association of former Agents of the United States Secret Service. The Association of former Agents of the United States Secret Service, www.oldstar.org.

John Drexell Gregory

January 16, 2017