Obituaries

John B. McGinty, Retired Aberdeen Police Chief, Dies at 81

McGinty served as a police officer for 31 years and was a trustee of the First Baptist Church of Matawan.

Retired Aberdeen Township Police Chief John B. McGinty, 81, died on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Harrisburg, Pa., where he and his wife, Evelyn, moved in 2008 to be closer to their family.

McGinty was a proud and involved Aberdeen resident his entire life, and served with honor as a police officer for 31 years, rising to the rank of chief of police. He was a life member of the Cliffwood Volunteer Fire Company, and served as a trustee of the First Baptist Church of Matawan, where he was a lifelong member. John was born in Matawan, and a graduate of Matawan High School. He coached Pop Warner football for Aberdeen, and helped mentor youth.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 57 years, Evelyn, in 2009. McGinty is survived by two daughters, Dolores Parsons and her husband, David of Newberry Township, Pa., and Sharon Callie, and her husband, Gerard of Lower Paxton Twp., Pa., as well as two grandchildren, Joshua Parsons of Ellicott City, Md. and Lauren Parsons of Middletown, Pa.; a sister-in-law, Dolores Bittner of Aberdeen; a brother-in-law, Max Matern of Sea Bright, and several nieces and nephews.

Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

John and his wife traveled extensively and he was happy to say he had visited all 50 states. In 2001, John and Evelyn moved from their home of 50 years on Lake Boulevard in Aberdeen to Wickatunk Village in Morganville. In their later years, the couple moved to the Harrisburg area to be closer to family, where they were actively involved in the church there, as well as leisure activities at the Manor at Oakridge. John was very fond of visiting fellow first responders at the fire and EMS companies in the Harrisburg area.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 at the First Baptist Church of Matawan, 232 Main St., Matawan, NJ 07747. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Matawan.

Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here