John J. Armstrong

John (Jack) Armstrong of Port Crane, NY, passed away March 25, 2026 after a valiant battle against cancer. He was predeceased by his mother, Margaret Borowski, sister, Margaret Dowling and son-in-law, James Ernst. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Linda, his beloved children, John Armstrong and partner Alexandra Story, Susan Ernst, Daniel and Roberta Armstrong, and his cherished grandchildren, Haley Armstrong, Elise and Simo Nikolic, Andre Angeline, Jack Armstrong and Anton Angeline, and many nieces and nephews.

As a young boy, he survived the bombing of Great Britain during World War II and returned to this country in a convoy attacked by German submarines. His first job at age seven was shining shoes in Newark, NJ. As a youth, he also caned chairs, dove for coins off the docks in Coney Island, sold root beer on the Keansburg boardwalk, and built docks and jetties. He crossed the Pacific on a troop ship as a young soldier during a typhoon and served in Korea and Japan. He was a volunteer fire chief of the New Point Comfort Fire Company, awarded for bravery, and named "Man of the Year" by the Greater Keansburg Jaycees. He became a lineman for NJ Bell and then a technician for AT&T. He was a CWA representative for Local 1111. He retired early and started his own successful telecommunications business with the help of his sons. He was an assistant scoutmaster and helped coach Little League. He had an extensive knowledge of history and many other interests, affectionately known as "Jack's Facts". He loved nature and his favorite past-time was working in the woods and fields of his hilltop farm. He listened to classical music while driving his beat-up pickup truck and was as comfortable in a tuxedo as he was in his Carhartts. He was proud of his Scotch-Irish heritage and lived by his clan motto "I remain unvanquished".

A Funeral Mass for John will be held on Tuesday, March 31st at 10 am at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 701 W. Main Street, Endicott. The family will receive friends on Monday, March 30th from 4-6 pm at the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 E. Main Street, Endicott.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the American Cancer Society.