Father John J. Mulvey, Jr.


Date of birth: 01/13/1935
Date of death: 09/08/2011
Visitation Hours: Thursday 7-9 pm at St. Mary\'s Roman Catholic Church, Colts Neck
Service Time: Funeral Mass 10 am Friday at St. Mary\'s Roman Catholic Church, Colts Neck
Cemetery: Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover
Funeral Home: Oakhurst
Rev. Dr. John J. Mulvey, Jr., 76, of Punta Gorda passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2011.

Born January 13, 1935 in Newark, New Jersey, Father Mulvey received a B.A. from Seton Hall University and then joined the seminary in 1959. He was ordained a priest on May 26, 1962. He served as an Associate Pastor and Pastor in Midland Park, Lodi and Nutley, New Jersey from 1962 to 1989. He was then assigned to Seton Hall University where served as a professor, coordinated an exchange program for Seton hall in Puerto Rico and served as the Spiritual Director of the Athletic Department, including 1989 when the basketball team won the Big East Tournament and played in the Championship game of the Final Four.

He earned a Masters degree and a Doctorate in Pastoral Psychotherapy from the Graduate Theological Foundation specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is the founder and director of "Just Between Families" a successful pastoral therapy program for troubled families and youth. He is also a nationally known specialist in sexual addiction counseling.

During his life he spent time in Nashville where he learned to play guitar and piano and learned how to write songs, which he did with Jimmy Buffett. He has written over 70 songs some of which he did with Tony Tamborello, the producer/arranger for Tony Bennett in the 70's and 80's.

He loved golf and was a member of Twin Isles Golf Club. He was involved with the LPGA Chrysler-Plymouth Classic in New Jersey from 1978 to 1989 and was a member of the David B. Kelly Foundation in South Amboy, New Jersey for the past 12 years serving as the Spiritual counselor for the annual golf tournament.

He was a Chaplain to the Marines and the Navy League.

He was a priest's priest whose sole mission life was to help people in substantial, meaningful ways. He earned his Doctorate to provide professional therapy to people in real need. He was a humanitarian, teacher, therapist, musician, songwriter, athlete and enjoyed an occasional glass of fine wine.