Obituary of John S. Dublanica
John Stephen Dublanica passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at CareOne in Wayne, NJ. He had shared 81 years of love and unforgettable memories with family, friends, students, and colleagues.
Born in Passaic, NJ to the late John and Anna Dublanica, John was the only child to bless their household. He grew up in Clifton and, after graduation from Seton Hall Prep in 1960, earned his baccalaureate degree from Seton Hall University in 1964. After college he went on to earn two master’s degrees from Penn State and Seton Hall. He met his beautiful bride, Barbara Ann Shea in 1966 and, after getting married in 1967, they settled in Stamford, Connecticut and soon started a family of their own. While there, John started a lifetime career as an educator, beginning as a biology instructor at St. Basil's Preparatory School in Stamford. After moving his family to Clifton, NJ in 1973, John began teaching history and English at Paramus High School and in 1988 became an administrator for the Ridgefield NJ School District before retiring in 2002. During his extensive career he not only taught thousands of students but helped establish special education programs and helped train countless teachers.
John was an avid reader who loved books and delighted in collecting rare first editions. He was also a cultured man with a wide range of tastes in literature and music. His guilty pleasure was his 1968 Porsche 911 in Bahama yellow. He loved that car, as well as spending time in nature, and traveling around the world with his wife. Above anything else, John adored his family. He was an attentive husband, dependable father, doting grandfather, and he will truly be missed.
His legacy will live on forever in the hearts of his beloved wife, Barbara Ann Dublanica; his son Stephen Dublanica and his wife Annie Schussler and their daughter, Natalie, and his son Mark William Dublanica and his wife Tara and their son, Ethan.
Public Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 6th from 4 – 8 pm at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 7th at 10 am at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 15 Myers Avenue, Denville. *(If you are unable to attend Mass, it will be live-streamed via St. Mary's Denville YouTube page or by clicking here.)* Memorial Donations are being accepted in John’s memory to American Parkinson Disease Association by way of www.inmemof.org to ensure receipt of your donation. Please leave a condolence, light a candle, and share your favorite memory of John here to continue to celebrate his life and let his light shine.
