John H.W. “Jack” Gesell

John H.W. "Jack" Gesell
11/01/1925 - 09/24/2013

John H. W. “Jack” Gesell- Engineer and Civic Leader in North Caldwell

John H. W. “Jack” Gesell, 87, a 55-year resident of North Caldwell passed away on September 24th in Chatham Township surrounded by his family at home. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 12th at 12:00 pm at the Presbyterian Church in Chatam Township located at 240 Southern Boulevard in Chatham. Mr. Gesell was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1925, the sone of John J. and Cora H> Gesell. he attended ellementary schoo in Cedar Groce and high school in Bloomfield, New Jersey. he was a graduate of Yale University where he earned degress in Administration and Engineering. He was elected to Tau Bata Pi, the honorary engineering society. He served in the Navy during Work War II and remainded in the Navel Reserve until resigning his commission in 1951. He joined ITT in early 1951 and served in various engineering capacities with them for over four decades, retiring in 1991 as Engineering Manager in the ITT Aerospace/Communications Division. He was perhaps most proud of his work in designing and developing the original GPs satellite navigational package that was the precursor to today’s auto and hand-held navigation units. He served his community as a Scouting leader, three-time President and member of th eWest Essex Regional School Board, North Caldwell Councilman, Planning Board member and Board of Adjustment member. He held memberships in a variety of professional and service organizations during his working years and was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Caldwell at Caldwell, the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township, the North Caldwell Senior Citizens, and the North Caldwell Historical Society during his golden years. Mr. Gesell’s first wife, Barbara Leef Gesell passed away in 1959. He survived by his second wife of 53 years, Marcia Busold Gesell and their children: David Gesell Gesell of New York City, Stephen and Tara (Gaydosh) Gesell of Chatham, and Dr. Laurie Gesell and Donal Kolb of Bloomfield, Wisconsin as well as their grandchildren Megan, Kevin, Madison, Alexander, and Benjamin and their beloved Westie, Piper.


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