In Memoriam
John F. Croddick Sr.
Born and raised on the Hanaway Farm in Morganville, New Jersey, John Frederick Croddick, son of Florence Hanaway Croddick and Eugene F. Croddick, passed peacefully into eternal life on Sunday evening, June 4, 2023.
Mr. Croddick was a lifelong resident of Monmouth County, where he knew each and every back road which he called "strawberry shortcuts." Later, he became a resident of Florida, residing in Boca Raton.
He attended Christian Brothers Academy as a member of the first graduating class in 1963, where he enjoyed playing basketball and baseball. He attended Upsala College where he earned a business degree and was, not surprisingly, the social chairman of Pi Delta Phi fraternity.
He met his wife of 54 years, Virginia Ryan, on the Jersey shore and together they raised five children on the Hanaway Farm. Mr. Croddick was involved in local politics and from 1976-80 served as a Councilman in Marlboro and Council President. He was the founder and CEO of Cosmetic Essence, Inc. He received many accolades for his professional accomplishments including being Monmouth University's Businessman of the Year and was named Grand Marshal of the Rumson Saint Patrick's Day Parade in 2019. Each March, a day is officially designated as "John Croddick Day" by the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners.
Mr. Croddick was proudly inducted into the Christian Brothers Academy Hall of Fame in 2021. He possessed an avid love for standardbred horse breeding, golf, and later, croquet. He loyally served as a trustee of Christian Brothers Academy for eight years.
He is predeceased by his parents, Florence and Eugene Croddick, and his sister, Patricia Croddick.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia, his three sisters, Jean Ellen Avery, Margaret Lempka and Mary Snyder, and his children: John F. Croddick, Jr. and wife, Rachel, Kathleen Croddick Molyneaux and husband, Mark, Erin Ryan Avery and husband, Charlie, Eugene F. Croddick, II and his wife, Nicole, and Julia Mannion Croddick. He had 15 beloved grandchildren: Jack, Lily, Ryan and Andy Croddick, MaryRose Croddick Molyneaux and husband, Jake Hennessy, Bridget and Eleanor Molyneaux, Charles, Virginia, Shanley and Mary Avery, and Eugene, Hanaway, Robert Emmett and Michael Wellington Croddick and one great-grandchild: Theodore Gates Hennessy.
Details and arrangements for services are as follows: Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, NJ on Thursday, June 8 from 5-8PM and a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church in Marlboro, NJ on Friday, June 9 at 12:15PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Christian Brothers Academy, 850 Newman Springs Road Lincroft, NJ 07738 https://www.cbalincroftnj.org and the Collier School founded by the Sister of the Good Shepherd, 160 Conover Road, Wickatunk, NJ 07765 https://www.collierhighschool.com
Mr. Croddick was a lifelong resident of Monmouth County, where he knew each and every back road which he called "strawberry shortcuts." Later, he became a resident of Florida, residing in Boca Raton.
He attended Christian Brothers Academy as a member of the first graduating class in 1963, where he enjoyed playing basketball and baseball. He attended Upsala College where he earned a business degree and was, not surprisingly, the social chairman of Pi Delta Phi fraternity.
He met his wife of 54 years, Virginia Ryan, on the Jersey shore and together they raised five children on the Hanaway Farm. Mr. Croddick was involved in local politics and from 1976-80 served as a Councilman in Marlboro and Council President. He was the founder and CEO of Cosmetic Essence, Inc. He received many accolades for his professional accomplishments including being Monmouth University's Businessman of the Year and was named Grand Marshal of the Rumson Saint Patrick's Day Parade in 2019. Each March, a day is officially designated as "John Croddick Day" by the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners.
Mr. Croddick was proudly inducted into the Christian Brothers Academy Hall of Fame in 2021. He possessed an avid love for standardbred horse breeding, golf, and later, croquet. He loyally served as a trustee of Christian Brothers Academy for eight years.
He is predeceased by his parents, Florence and Eugene Croddick, and his sister, Patricia Croddick.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia, his three sisters, Jean Ellen Avery, Margaret Lempka and Mary Snyder, and his children: John F. Croddick, Jr. and wife, Rachel, Kathleen Croddick Molyneaux and husband, Mark, Erin Ryan Avery and husband, Charlie, Eugene F. Croddick, II and his wife, Nicole, and Julia Mannion Croddick. He had 15 beloved grandchildren: Jack, Lily, Ryan and Andy Croddick, MaryRose Croddick Molyneaux and husband, Jake Hennessy, Bridget and Eleanor Molyneaux, Charles, Virginia, Shanley and Mary Avery, and Eugene, Hanaway, Robert Emmett and Michael Wellington Croddick and one great-grandchild: Theodore Gates Hennessy.
Details and arrangements for services are as follows: Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, NJ on Thursday, June 8 from 5-8PM and a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church in Marlboro, NJ on Friday, June 9 at 12:15PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Christian Brothers Academy, 850 Newman Springs Road Lincroft, NJ 07738 https://www.cbalincroftnj.org and the Collier School founded by the Sister of the Good Shepherd, 160 Conover Road, Wickatunk, NJ 07765 https://www.collierhighschool.com
