The Borough will be honoring one of Spring Lake Heights residents, John Tarantino on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 2:00 pm. John was a highly decorated World War II Veteran.
John was a resident of the Fairway Mews community and left this earth in November 2022. His many friends proposed that the area of Highway 71 bordering Fairway Mews be re-named the “John Tarantino Highway.”
With the help of Assemblyman Sean Kean legislation was passed and signed into law by Governor Murphy on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
It is with great pride we honor him by naming a portion of State Highway 71(from Freedom Park (corner of Allaire Road and Highway 71) to Passaic Ave the “John Tarantino Highway”.
Please join us on August 27, 2024, at 2:00 pm at the corner of Passaic Ave and Highway 71.
The following is shared from his obituary:
John was a graduate of John Adams High School in Ozone Park, NY and was drafted into the US Army when he turned 18.
He served in the European Theater of Operations and was in the 47th Armored Infantry Battalion, 5th Armored Division, 3rd Army commanded by General Patton. He landed at Utah Beach in Normandy five weeks after the D-Day invasion. He participated in the liberation of Luxembourg and the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. He then fought at the Battle of the Bulge and narrowly avoided being killed in the Malmedy Massacre. After 5 months of fighting, John was 1 of 2 soldiers who were not killed or wounded out of over 200 men in his company who landed at Utah Beach. He suffered severe frostbite for which he was under treatment his entire life. John spent months in the hospital in Wales and then in the USA recuperating from his wounds before receiving an honorable discharge from the Army. He is a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization.
John has been honored as an Honoree Veteran at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. and by the Counsel General of Luxembourg at a Battle of the Bulge Survivor Reunion and Monument Dedication in Port Monmouth, NJ. The DAV also honored John by raising $10k to train a rescue dog and then naming the dog “JT” in his honor. He has spoken at numerous ceremonies honoring veterans throughout the State of New Jersey. His awards include the WWII European Campaign Ribbon with 3 Bronze Battle Stars, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
After his time in the United States Army, John spent the majority of his career in consumer soft goods with Montgomery Ward and Sears, Roebuck & Co.
John moved to Fairway Mews in Spring Lake Heights in 1988 where he was an active golfer and founded the Men’s 9-Hole Club. He also was a founder of and participant in the Bocce Club.
Thanks to New Jersey Assemblyman Sean Kean, state legislation A4955 was passed to rename the portion of the highway between Allaire Road and Warren Avenue. State, county, and local leaders have been invited and are expected to attend this event. We will gather at the corner of Passaic Ave and Route 71 at the Spring Lake Heights School.
