Plan for the Future
~~John ”Jack” L.N. Prewitt, Jr.
(August 23, 1927-January 24, 2018)
Jack Prewitt of Berkeley Heights, NJ passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends at Morristown Medical Center on January 24, 2018. He was born in Princeton, NJ on August 23, 1927 and raised in East Orange, NJ. Jack was a Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor for over 29 years at Merrill Lynch in New York and in Short Hills, NJ following 9-11. Prior to working in the financial arena, Jack was a true entrepreneur. He founded his own company in the 1960s—The J. Nelson Prewitt Company—which marketed and sold MATEY bathtime products for children. In 1963, he sold the brand to Economic Laboratories. It is still sold in the UK by Unilever. He also started the first ever food brokerage in the UK and established his connections with many Brits who became close friends. In this country, he began his own food brokerage, employing reps all over the country.
Jack worked well into his 80s. In the interim, he picked up the violin at 72, revisiting an old hobby from junior high. He took lessons weekly and played in many concerts with the New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra. He also served on their board as its fundraising chair. Jack was committed to the mission of this organization dear to his heart. Jack loved athletic endeavors of all kinds as a participant and a spectator, including tennis, squash, paddle tennis, sailing and golf. He learned to ski in Austria and did so all over Europe and the US. He enjoyed playing chess with his dear late friend, Peter Yerkes. They played once a week and employed a chess master for lessons. Jack was a devoted fan of the Summit Hilltoppers football and ice hockey teams and still enjoyed going to games.
Jack attended the University of Vermont and then transferred to Rutgers University where he received his undergraduate degree. Prior to college, Jack served in the Navy as a Seabee stationed in Hawaii as WWII concluded.
Jack treated every challenge as an opportunity. He made friends wherever he went and was widely known as a true gentleman who treated everyone he met with kindness and respect. Jack was a dedicated parishioner at Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit and served as an usher there for many years.
Jack was the devoted husband of Cynthia Lunt Prewitt for over 45 years. Jack and Cynthia met in Rochester, NY where they later married in 1972 and then made their first home together. Jack and Cynthia’s greatest passion was travelling together– throughout the US and abroad. Shortly before Jack’s 90th birthday they took a special trip to Denmark. Jack and Cynthia moved to Summit, NJ in 1977 where they happily raised their children Victoria and John. They relocated to Berkeley Heights in 2013.
He will be remembered with love and admiration by his family including Cynthia, his beloved wife, his children Victoria (Peter) Dalena of Summit, John (Jacqueline) Prewitt of Austin, TX and grandchildren Paige and Ellie Dalena and Jackson Prewitt. Additionally, Jack is survived by three children from a previous marriage: Jack (Cheryl) Prewitt, Mary Prewitt Schreiber, and Elizabeth Prewitt. Jack is also survived by his loving sister Marilyn Prewitt Fredrick (Raymond) of Palm City, FL along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Lorraine Maurer.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service in celebration of Jack’s life at Calvary Episcopal Church (31 Woodland Ave, Summit) on Saturday February 3, 2018 at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his memory may be sent to the NJ Intergenerational Orchestra, 570 Central Ave, New Providence, NJ 07974. www.njio.org. Please note the Jack Prewitt Fund for Beginner String Players.