John P. Croke, 82, of Avon, CT, formerly of Fairfield, CT, beloved husband of the late Ann M. (Sullivan) Croke, died on Thursday, February 1, 2018. He was born July 20, 1935, in Boston, MA; son of the late Edward Timothy and Mary (McQueeney) Croke. John proudly served his country in the United States Army Reserves. He was employed by IBM for over thirty years as a marketing manager. He was an ardent alumni of Boston College - class of 1958, former golf chairman and longtime member of the Patterson Club in Fairfield, CT, and a loyal communicant of St. Mary’s Church, Simsbury, CT and St. Luke’s Church in Westport, CT. John was an avid reader of the Boston Globe, enjoyed tending to his vegetable garden and was a passionate Boston sports fan, forever following the Bruins, Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics.
He is survived by two loving sons, John P. Croke Jr. and his wife Beth of Holliston, MA and David E. Croke and his wife Suzanne of Simsbury, CT; seven grandchildren, Jane, Peter, Anne, John, Charles, Carolyn and Edward; a brother, Paul V. Croke and his wife Pauline and 19 nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Ann, he was predeceased by a son, Gerard M. Croke, and his brother, Edward T. Croke Jr. He held a very special bond with his mother-in-law, Helen M. Sullivan, as well as her extended family.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 10th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 942 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, CT followed by a celebration of life. Burial will be private and held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the CT Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, . Please visit John’s Book of Memories at, www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.