Obituary of John Atlantic

John Atlantic passed suddenly into heavenly rest on April 13, 2020 at Complete Care at Summit Ridge in West Orange, NJ. John was born on April 27th 1931 in Newark, New Jersey and reared by his mother, Oneida Jay Strong. He attended the Newark Public School system during his formative years and decided to suspend his education two months prior to graduating Barringer High School to join the United States Navy. John received an Honorable Discharge on May 26, 1954. On January 9, 1954 he married Beatrice Cooper and soon after he adopted her son and gave him his name, Bryan Anthony Atlantic. To this union was added three children, Karen, Brenda, and Stephen Atlantic. After his time in the service, John became employed as foreman and shop steward at Art Metal in Newark for many years before acquiring a position as a Postal Worker at the Dominick V. Daniels (DVD) Postal and Delivery Center in Kearny, NJ from 1986 until his retirement in October 2001. Having left high school early, John spent many years contemplating obtaining his GED, which he eventually acquired. He continued his education, graduating from Essex County College with an Associates Degree in Business Management in August 1983. A lover of history and a voracious reader, in November of the same year, he began Basic Reading tutoring at the main East Orange Library and also taught shut-in students for the Newark Board of Education. In 1979 John joined Peaceful Zion Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Joseph E. Osborne, Jr. It is here on May 11, 1985 that John united in marriage to Barbara Anderson and merged both sets of children. This union was officiated by Rev. Rubel Caldwell. A connoisseur of music, John became a member of the J.T. Osborne Memorial Male Choir. He also enjoyed serving so he volunteered frequently doing odd jobs around the church. One of his greatest passions was cooking, specifically baking upside down pineapple cake and macaroni and cheese. He had a flare for cleaning as he cooked and preferred reigning over the kitchen alone. Equal to his joy for cooking was his love for receiving compliments even before his family tasted his delectable dishes. He was certain his food was delicious and unmatched. John and Barbara had an adventurous spirit and delighted themselves in travel to places like Hawaii, Aruba, Bahamas, Germany, Italy, and many states in the US. His son Bryan Sr., Zina-Diane and Brenda preceded John in death. He leaves to cherish his memories his lover and devoted wife Barbara of 35 years, daughter: Karen Atlantic of Las Vegas, NV, sons: Stephen Atlantic of Manchester, CT, Sylvester Anderson of Williamsburg/Brooklyn, NY, Spiritual daughter Wanda Rodgers of Hillside, NJ, Spiritual sister Ann Netherland of Columbia, MD, grandchildren: Tracey Sheldon, Tia (Travis) Wilbur, Dena Atlantic, Bryan Jr. (Kristen) Atlantic, Moses and Hope Atlantic, Chantal (Marshall) Jones, Kebra (Leonard Sr.) Rettenberg and eight great grandchildren. God daughters: Sylvia Baldwin of East Orange, Deonna Rogers of Hillside, Vanessa Hall of Edison, Cynthia Caldwell of Cherry Hill, Judy Alleyne of East Orange and God sons: Ted R. Green, mayor of East Orange, Michael and Thomas III Baldwin, Extended Family: Phyllis Goodwin of Linden, Leonard Moore of East Orange, Harriet Johnson of East Orange, Shirley Bynum of Hillside, Sandra Matthews of East Orange, Barbara Ismail, East Orange, Alice White of South Orange, Deloris McCants of Newark, Carolyn Burgess of Georgia, Mike Phillips of Georgia, Henrietta Owusu of Maryland, Rev. James C. and Mrs. Marsh Wilkerson of East Orange, Madonna place neighbors and finally, Rev. Dr. Johnson, Pastor and Peaceful Zion Family. INTERMENT Fairmont Cemetery, Newark, NJ