John Charles Penberthy Jr

June 14, 1933 - January 10, 2015

John C. Penberthy Jr. South Orange/Maplewood educator enjoyed the outdoors. John C. Penberthy Jr., 81, of Glen Ridge, N.J., passed away on Saturday evening, Jan. 10, 2015, in Voorhees, N.J., in his sleep from complications of heart disease. The family will celebrate John’s life at Van Tassel Funeral home, 337 Belleville Ave., Bloomfield, N.J. 07003 on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, with a viewing and service from 5 to 8 p.m. John was the loving husband of Susan A. Penberthy for 44 years. He was an educator at South Orange Junior High School and Columbia High School in the South Orange/Maplewood, N.J., school district for 37 years. John was active in the teachers union while at Columbia, and was past president of PDK (teaching honors fraternity) as well as a founding member, along with Susan, of the Silver Cougars. John attended Montclair State on a track scholarship (B.A. and M.A.) and was a Korean War veteran. He enjoyed camping, canoeing, hiking and reading, and loved to spend time with friends and family.John is survived by his wife, Susan; son, John C. Penberthy III, Esq.; stepson, Christopher Lefebvre; sister, Gladys Frances; brother, William Penberthy, and their families.