John Patrick Carey III

He was born to John Patrick Carey II and Marjorie Fleming Carey. With his sisters, Eileen and Fran, and his brother Jimmy, he grew up in the Bronx, on the 5th floor of 7 Metropolitan Oval, in Parkchester—a massive urban residential and commercial complex and world unto itself. The first in his family to attend college, he paid for his undergraduate degree in Economics at Fordham University by loading UPS trucks on the 4 to midnight shift four nights a week. Like most young men of his era, he became draft eligible the day he graduated and volunteered to join the US Navy through the Officer Candidate School program. His goal was to be a Navy pilot, even though his first airplane ride was to his OCS training in Pensacola, FL. Though he was an excellent flier, he had a little trouble with landings and thus did not “get jets” but wound up in the Mediterranean as the base security officer, Sigonella Air Station, Sicily, despite volunteering to go to Vietnam. His time in Italy was well spent, being responsible for everything from the security gate, mad dog control, and cigarette rationing, as well as being boarding officer for incoming ships, and maintaining the base’s airfield. He lived off base to truly experience local culture in the shadow of Mt. Etna (and have some fun with fellow bachelors), traveled widely throughout Europe, and met and later married his lifelong companion, Ginny. She was visiting from the College of William and Mary one summer and was introduced to him at the party thrown by her father (the base supply officer) to celebrate the moon landing by American astronauts.

On his honorable discharge, he returned to the states and after a brief stint as a personnel administrator for NY city UPS, he and Ginny moved to VA, where he lived for the rest of his life. Returning to college and then graduate school, he laid out the foundation for the professional career that meant so much to him: secondary education, with a specialty in industrial and career and technical programs, including job placement for traditional and GED students. His 30-year career at Lafayette High School (including several years as assistant football coach) positively influenced not only countless students and parents, but also generations of local business and civic leaders, strengthening the fabric of this flourishing community. He served in many service and leadership capacities over the years, both related to his work at LHS and various professional organizations, and also throughout the community. As President of the Windsor Forest HOA, he led the effort to build a neighborhood clubhouse, a venue where he rejoiced in—and attended—countless meetings, parties, and celebrations over four decades.

As chair of the St. Bede Parish Council, he devoted two years of his life to the planning and construction of the “new” St. Bede on Ironbound Road. A founding member of the church’s Knights of Columbus Council, he served with his KOC brothers on many service projects, and he organized the parish Monthly Maintenance Ministry which still meets and works monthly today. Some of his fondest memories were of mission trips to the Appalachian counties of southwest, VA, bringing clothing and construction materials for summer teen volunteer work projects. In his later years, he served as a volunteer driver for Williamsburg Faith in Action and often rode along with his wife Ginny on her Meals on Wheels rounds. A humble and humorous man, he was always there to help, whenever and wherever help was needed—and he was truly the “wind beneath her wings” in supporting Ginny’s professional careers.

Jack loved building things, including countless DIY projects at his Windsor Forest home and at his beloved “Bay House” on Gwynn’s Island. He loved God and his country, his community, WM football and Quarterback Club, and pretty much all people from all walks of life. He loved dogs, cats, and birds, but the pride and joy of his life was his family. He is survived by his sisters, Fran Small and Eileen McGirl (husband Jack); his sister-in-law, Cathy Vogel; many nephews, nieces, cousins, and lifelong friends; his wife of 54 years, Virginia Vogel Carey; his two daughters, who followed in his footsteps as educators: Shawn Carey (married to Carola Pisani) and Amber Spicer (married to Hanes Spicer); his son, US Navy Captain Ryan Carey (married to Sarah Lewis Carey); and his ten grandchildren, whom he frequently and fondly called by their birth order number: (1) Brynn, (2) Clare, (3) Benjamin, (4) Willa, (5) Natalie, (6) Mateo, (7) Catalina, (8) Bowen, (9) John Patrick Carey IV, and (10) Nora.

A 12:00 PM funeral mass and celebration of his life will be held at St. Bede Church, 3686 Ironbound Rd, on Saturday, January 3, 2026.

Donations in Jack’s memory can be made to the VCU Massey Comprehensive Care Center, Box 843042, Richmond, VA 23286-0441, or online at Support.vcu.edu/Massey, or to the Williamsburg Community Foundation, 1323 Jamestown Rd., Williamsburg, VA, 23185, for the annual Jack and Jimmy Carey Career and Tech Ed scholarship. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com.