Obituary of John Bannon

John P. Bannon, of Pompton Plains, formerly of Bloomfield, died Friday, February 10, 2023. He was 96.

A first generation American and native New Yorker, John was the son of Irish immigrants, Patrick and Mary (nee Doyle) Bannon. Raised on W. 172nd Street in Manhattan, he spent many summers with extended family in the great outdoors of Staten Island. The streets of New York were his childhood playground and he loved to tell stories of his adventures swimming in the Harlem River and running deliveries for the local grocer for ten cents a day.

Inspired to fight for his country during World War II, John enlisted in the Marines after high school, and was stationed in China. He later attended college on the GI Bill, earning a degree from Manhattan College. In the 1950s, John rowed on the men’s eight for the New York City Athletic Club.

Always curious, John explored many careers throughout the state of New York. After some early years in advertising on Madison Avenue, John tried his hand at entrepreneurship. At various times, he owned an employment services company in Long Island, held a stake in a restaurant and inn in the Hudson Valley, and even drove nights as a New York City cab driver. During his time as an insurance company representative, his route covered western New York as far as Rochester. Later than most, John began a career as a Criminal Investigator with the Department of the Treasury, eventually spending 20 years in that field.

John was passionate about the work he did. He was a founding member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), and spent time lobbying for the organization at both the state and federal level. Through his advocacy, FLEOA helped pass legislation that improved working conditions for federal law enforcement personnel across the country. He concluded his professional life working in the Inspector General’s office of the New York City School Construction Authority.

John married the love of his life, Joan Musselman, on November 20, 1971. Both avid skiers, they travelled in the same social circles for many years as friends before becoming a couple. John often joked that, "she was the only woman I could ever live with, and she didn’t realize that she was special to me until I proposed.” They settled in Bloomfield to raise two sons, building a happy home filled with family and friends. John and Joan were wonderful hosts, routinely holding dinners and get togethers. They frequently traveled all over the US to visit family and for pleasure, stopping at every historical landmark along the way.

In 2012, John and Joan moved to Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains where John became a very active resident. Always the extrovert, he thrived participating in the many clubs and organizations offered in the community.

John was a true family man, and proudly hosted a family reunion every year. Personal connections were important to John, and he was known to travel any distance to visit relatives and friends. He was a loving, devoted patriarch of the Bannon family and he will be dearly missed.

John was predeceased by his wife, Joan, in 2017. He is lovingly survived by his children, John F. Bannon and Douglas P. Bannon (Susan Mason); his sister, Anne DiNapoli; his sister-in-law, Ann Musselman; his daughter-in-law, Amanda Chaloupka; his grandchildren, Jonas and Helena; and his niece and nephews, Ann E. Musselman, Matthew Musselman, and David DiNapoli.

He was also predeceased by his sister, Mary Bannon, and his brothers-in-law, Al DiNapoli and Francis Musselman.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 8 pm Monday, February 20 at the M. John Scanlan Funeral Home, Pompton Plains. A funeral Mass will be held 11 am Tuesday at the Chapel at Cedar Crest Village, Pompton Plains. Interment will be held 11 am Wednesday at the Cemetery of the Holy Rood, Westbury, NY. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in John's memory to the Alzheimer's Association-Greater NJ Chapter would be greatly appreciated by the Bannon family. Click here to donate.