John L. Daniels, Jr.

Obituary

John Lester Daniels, Jr., 75, of Ocala, FL, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2023. He was born on October 30, 1947 to John L. Daniels, Sr. and Anna Torrey (Osmond) Daniels of Delanco, NJ.

John leaves behind a collection of fond memories and warm feelings that will be shared by his family and friends for years to come. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Marcia Anne (Wisniewski) Daniels, and his children, Dr. Mary Leigh Anne Daniels (wife of Quinn Lentz) and Colin Joseph Daniels (husband of Paige Daniels), as well as grandchildren AnnaLeigh Elizabeth Lentz and Ryder Quinn Lentz, and Owen Theodore Daniels and Esme Carole Daniels. John is also survived by his sister, Claire (Daniels) Lorincz and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and extended family.

A child of Delanco, a small, then-rural town in South Jersey, John had a happy childhood. In later years, he often reflected on his memories of ice skating, fishing, camping, duck hunting, boating, and enjoying the open space of South Jersey. He also developed a lifelong interest in photography and was a member of the Riverside Camera Club.

John graduated from Riverside High School in 1966 and was one of the first graduates of Burlington County College, obtaining an associate degree in 1971. He subsequently graduated from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science.

Beginning in 1973, John worked for 33 years for the U.S. government, nearly all of it spent as a Claims Representative in the Social Security Administration office, primarily in Mount Holly, NJ. John became known in his office as “Superman” for his eagerness and ability to solve the little problems that would arise in everyday office life, and became well-versed in handling computer systems issues. Early in his career, he met the

love of his life, Marcia, a co-worker at Social Security. The two married in 1976 and built their life together in John’s hometown of Delanco.

John was a selfless man who put the needs of others ahead of his own personal wishes. He cared for his parents late in their lives, opening his home to them and ensuring that they lived their final years in comfort and with love. He coached his children’s sports teams, learning the rules of soccer as he went and leading one team to an undefeated season in 1994. For years, he sacrificed personal hobbies like golf in order to provide for family vacations, piano lessons, and private schooling. He gave a home to a blind dog named Corky, who lived a long and happy life.

In 2006, he retired from Social Security and embarked on a lengthy and happy retirement. He and Marcia moved to Ocala in 2008, where they became part of the social fabric of their senior living community, Summer Glen. John finally had the opportunity to hone his golf skills, while also taking up horseshoes, poker, softball umpiring, and mahjong. He emceed trivia nights and joined the Summer Glen Players (acting troupe). He also participated in a bevy of fantasy baseball and fantasy football leagues, delighting in the competition and debates that went along with them.

John had a lifelong interest in the environment and all of the wonderful parts of the planet Earth beyond his community. He cared deeply about ways in which people could reduce their negative impact on the planet. He enjoyed traveling to different parts of the globe and learning about new cultures, spending time in Canada, Italy, Ireland, Spain, England, Scotland, Norway, Iceland, the Canary Islands, Costa Rica, Mexico, and several other countries in Central America and Europe, as well as the vast majority of the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii).

A lifelong fan of Philadelphia sports teams, John was proud to have attended a Phillies World Series victory in 2008 and the Eagles’ victory in the “Snow Bowl” in 2013. He regularly attended games at Phillies Spring Training in Clearwater, FL through 2023. Until his final days, he enjoyed regaling his grandchildren with stories of his favorite Phillies of yesteryear, like Dick Allen and Richie Ashburn.

John enjoyed a good comedy, classic rock music (especially Bruce Springsteen and Fleetwood Mac) and a smooth glass of Jack Daniel’s. He had a loud, infectious laugh and no patience for dishonesty. He looked out for his family and required his children to always do their best. His enduring legacy is the long list of people that he helped raise and teach during his life through parenting, grandparenting, and coaching.

There will be no funeral, per John’s wishes. A burial service will take place in South Jersey at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ducks Unlimited (https://www.ducks.org), Little League International (https://www.littleleague.org) or the Woodwell Climate Research Center (https://www.woodwellclimate.org).