Julius "John" Okulicz's Obituary
Julius "John" Okulicz, 86, of Oakland, NJ passed away at home on November 6, 2021, surrounded by loved ones, after bravely fighting a year-long battle with cancer.
Born on January 16, 1935, John earned both a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He worked in the computer industry for decades, working most recently for Cigna and Corporate Express. In 1965, John met his wife Phyllis and together they raised their two children. He was dedicated to his family and took great pride in providing for them. He adored his wife and was fortunate to have her as a partner for almost 55 years.
John loved being with family and friends, especially for holidays and birthdays. He was a character, known for his sharp wit and love of food, his big grin lighting up every gathering. On any given day, you'd have found John reading the paper, tending his garden, baking a homemade pizza, rooting for the Red Sox, cheering on the Giants, or helping his wife around the house. He was very active, took long walks, played tennis, and was in many bowling leagues. He especially enjoyed gardening, even earning a master gardening certification.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Esther; and his beloved wife, Phyllis. He is survived by his children, John (Allison) Okulicz; and Julie (Scott) Sanchez and grandsons Reid and Brandon; his sister Barbara; his sister-in-law, Gayle (Al) Del Tufo; and numerous nieces and nephews.
John will be remembered not only for his warmth and humor, but also for his headstrong nature and his unspoken determination to keep going no matter the challenge. A memorial will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the New Jersey Botanical Garden.
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