John Everett Oliver Jr.

Everyone who knew John loved him. The love was there in the little things, like the way many affectionately called him “J.O.” Among his family, he was “Jack.”

John was unforgettable; he was larger than life. He had a big laugh, quick wit, and a quiet but commanding presence that made him the center of every room. He had a gift for friendship, and his weekends were always spent in hearty companionship with family, friends, and colleagues.

John was an original Washingtonian. He was born in D.C. on April 21, 1950, to Erma Opal Lynch and John E. Oliver, Sr. The Olivers lived in Kensington, where John attended Albert Einstein High School (class of ‘68). He was apparently quite the baseball player there; his 1967 championship team was inducted in 2017 to the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame for being the only baseball team in its 55-year history to have a perfect season. “Jackie Oliver” played third base.

After high school, John attended the University of Maryland, College Park. He joined the U.S. Army Reserves, serving at Fort Meade from 1971 to 1977.

Professionally, John was a giant in the environmental stewardship world, in particular at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He dedicated his career to fisheries and the ocean, retiring in 2011 from NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service as the deputy assistant administrator, overseeing a billion-dollar budget and thousands of employees. He started at NOAA as a payroll clerk in 1973 (in the old Rockville, Maryland, building), working his way up through the years in various budget analyst roles - including chief financial officer for the National Ocean Service. He eventually joined the Senior Executive Service in 1998.

In his nearly 40-year career at NOAA, John was called upon to lead time and time again, both during major change initiatives and in times of crisis. Listing the professional awards John received would blow our word count, but one that stands out is the 2008 Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Senior Executive Service as a key architect of a fisheries management strategic plan. John also proudly served at the Office of Management and Budget, working on the President’s budget in 1983 – and earning the highest level of respect and regard from his OMB colleagues.

He was also a staunch supporter of the NOAA Corps, its fleets, and programs such as Teacher at Sea. His dedication never waned, as evidenced by his attendance at a ship keel laying event as recently as last month in Houma, Louisiana.

When John retired, the accolades poured in, with words like mentor, integrity, key change agent, accessible in a crisis, and camaraderie. A former NOAA administrator told him he was a “legend, an institution, and a great American.” That was John’s catchphrase when he wanted to praise someone’s work: “You’re a great American.”

To the NOAA community, John was more than a colleague and a mentor — he was family.

It was at NOAA that John met Cheryl, the love of his life. In a harbinger of their future enjoyment of professional sporting events, the lovers-to-be crossed paths at a NOAA-sponsored trip to see the Orioles play at Camden Yards. They married in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on February 29, 2004, a leap year. John thought he was getting a great deal having to celebrate his anniversary only every four years. The joke was on him: off-year celebrations took place on both February 28 and March 1.

John and Cheryl lived and worked for the rest of their careers in Silver Spring but throughout, North Carolina and the Outer Banks held a special place in their lives. They knew when they retired they wanted to live there, just maybe not in a flood zone. Leland, just west of Wilmington, was the perfect fit.

In retirement, John lived with as much passion as he worked. In recent years, he and Cheryl gave time, expertise, and financial support to North Carolina charities and colleges, including East Carolina University to support its Coastal Studies Institute.

John loved his beautiful wife Cheryl and his family, his friends, his country – and his Washington Redskins. He was a life-long Skins fan, attending four of their five Super Bowls and never missing a home game in 40 years. He loved a cigar and a good bourbon (his “house wine” was Maker’s Mark), and over the years he collected enough bottles that they eventually needed their own room. If you were fortunate enough to visit John at home, you were getting a bourbon tasting or three.

He was also a World War II buff, and in recent years he and Cheryl checked off a bucket list trip to London, Normandy, Berlin and Prague to soak up the history on the 80th anniversary of D-Day and VE-Day.

These simple joys, shared with Cheryl, and his friends and family, colored his life. And he colored ours. He will be so missed.

Fair winds and following seas, J.O. You were a great American.

John is survived by his wife of 21 years, Cheryl Ann Oliver, his sisters and brother-in-laws Joanna and Terry Good of Advance, NC, Lynn and Richard Petty of Hilliard, Ohio, Caroline and Lyle Schofield of Lewisville, NC, nieces Annette and Dianna Petty, and his mother-in-law, Jane Huntzberry of Wilmington, NC. He is also survived by a large extended loving family in Charlottesville, Hixburg, and Appomattox, Virginia.

Celebration of life events will take place in Leland, Silver Spring, and Hixburg.

In his honor donations can be made to:

The National WWII Museum/New Orleans

945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/give

or

East Carolina University Coastal Studies Institute

Division of University Advancement

2200 S. Charles Blvd, Greenville Centre

Mail Stop 301

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC 27858

https://give.ecu.edu