John Hughes Oakes Jr., born October 11, 1955, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, tragically passed away in the early evening of August 1, 2024. He leaves a legacy of kindness and devotion to his community. Growing up in Edison, John was a multi-sport athlete known for his athletic prowess, good looks, and overall good character. John attended JP Stevens High School, where he excelled in sports before continuing his basketball career at Montclair State University.
After college, John pursued a career as a professional billiards player, even competing several times at the World Open. During this time, he met Linda, his former wife, with whom he built a beautiful family, including their children John, Christine, and Lisa.
John naturally passed his athleticism to his children and became known as Coach. He coached town teams, travel teams, and AAU basketball, treating each player like his own child.
In later years, John moved to Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, where he spent the next 20 years. He cherished the friendships he made, enjoyed playing in various pool leagues, and enjoyed his walks through his community.
As a devout Christian, he never missed his Saturday 5:30 p.m. mass. He was a parishioner of Precious Blood of Christ in Pawleys Island and Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Murrells Inlet.
Many felt John’s generosity and love for others, and his physical presence will be deeply missed. However, he will continue to watch over his loved ones.
As his high school coach once said, John had a gigantic heart.
John is predeceased by his parents, Effie and John. He is survived by his son John, daughters, Christine and Lisa, son-in-law Ryan and granddaughter Mila Adrianna Also survived by his former wife, Linda.
He played a significant role in rebuilding Every Child Counts – a nonprofit school for children with learning, development, or physical disabilities after Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco, Bahamas. ECC was near and dear to John’s heart. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to this worthy cause at
www.everychildcountsabaco.org
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 10 AM at St. Helena RC Church, 950 Grove Ave, Edison, NJ. Burial will follow at St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia in, NJ.
The mass will be livestreamed through the St. Helena website.
A Memorial Service in South Carolina to celebrate John’s life is planned for a later date.
I met John in SC in 2011 during a very dark time. When we met, he asked about my Saint Christopher medal necklace. He was wearing the same one. We exchanged stories about how his mother had bought him his, and my father had bought me mine. Two weeks later we met again and decided to go to 11am Mass at St. Michael’s in Murrells Inlet. This was the beginning of our friendship. When I think of John, I think, “he was a good man”
We had many adventures helping Every Child Counts in Marsh Harbour, Abaco Bahamas. John was a devoted volunteer at the school and it wasn’t unusual to see him playing sports with the children or climbing coconut trees. He loved to paint…and he loved to cut and carve wood with the older kids. When our Parish in SC donated 22 wooden church pews to our Parish in Treasure Cay, Abaco, John harvested the pews from SC, put them in a container and then flew over to meet the pews on the other side of the Atlantic and place them in our little church. You can see the photos of this project here at http://www.tammywinner.com (click on outside the classroom).
He was funny and sometimes a bit odd…but I loved him and the human that he was.
Dear John, until we meet again, thank you for all you did on this Earth. Tammy
http://www.everychildcountsabaco.org
Your such a beautiful person. I’m so lucky my father had you in his life.
John was on my pool team for many years we won a number championships I have plaques with his name on with team players I would love to give one of the plaques,to his family When you you come to myrtle beach to settle his house and other matters please call me or my wife,at 646 872 4103 We celebrated Easter and Thanksgiving at my house a number of times and we we played pool in my garage MA y times,with lots of friends
Nds there I will miss him
Oh my goodness! You were such a good friend. I know all about you. It made me so happy he had places to go during holidays. I now see why he wouldn’t leave S.C. he really had built an incredible family.
We will give you a call & look forward to meeting you when we celebrate his life there.
I am so very sorry to hear of John’s passing. He was such a wonderful soul. My heartfelt condolences to his children and everyone who had the privilege to call him friend. God will welcome him into heaven and he will always be in the hearts of those who knew him.
There are people who come into your life and just pass on through, and then there are those who stay in your fondest memories forever. John’s a stayer.
“ Across the sea of life we find
Now and then,
A man whom all who know will say:
“ He’s fit to walk with men.”
And so, High Heaven
Which sees and knows,
Looks down in approbation,
And it’s accolade bestows. “
from a poem by C. H. Lightbourn,
late of Abaco.
Rest in Peace John.
My deepest sympathy goes to John’s family and friends. As an Abaconian, I want you to know how much John’s work at both Every Child Counts School, Marsh Harbour, and Sts. Mary and Andrew’s Church, Treasure Cay, was appreciated. He was a much loved part of both and it was a joy to watch as he gave of himself and his talents for their betterment. Thank you, John.
We wish we were there to experience it with him. This fills our hearts with so much joy. We plan to take a trip to ECC this year & continue to pass on the joy my father did. Thank you for your kind words