John David Schupper

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Linda; his children, Debra Schachtel (husband, James) and Julie Klein (husband, Gregg); and five grandchildren, Carolyn, Jonah and Paige Schachtel, and Samantha and Sydney Klein. John is preceded in death by his mother Pat, father Irving, and sister Nancy Zielinski.

John grew up in West Orange, New Jersey and attended West Orange High School. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and valedictorian of the University of Pennsylvania Law School as well as Editor in Chief of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. Following law school, he served as a law clerk for Chief Justice Joseph Weintraub of the New Jersey Supreme Court. He then began his corporate law career at the law firm known as Lowenstein Sandler. He joined the single office Newark, New Jersey firm as its 11th lawyer in 1969 and retired from practice in 2013 by which time he had helped the firm grow to include over 250 lawyers working from several offices around the country.

John was a highly respected business lawyer with a diverse corporate practice. He counseled senior management for more than 45 years on complex financial, operating and strategic planning issues. He also served as Chief Financial and Operating Officer of the firm from 1994 to 2006. Following his retirement from law, John served as President of Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell from 2016 to 2019 during which time he was instrumental in the Club’s extensive renovation and continued to be involved in the Club’s governance beyond his term.

John and Linda raised their children in Livingston, New Jersey and then moved back to West Orange, the town where they had first met. John and Linda spent much of their winters in Naples, Florida. John loved having his family visit Naples and spent some of his happiest days surrounded by his children and grandchildren in their family home.

John’s passions in life included spending time with his family, traveling, playing golf and reading. John traveled extensively with friends and family, and particularly loved his trips to Capri, Italy. He was also an avid golfer who enjoyed playing with friends at both Mountain Ridge and Colliers Reserve in Naples. John was a lifelong learner, and most recently proctored college courses with his grandchildren as a way to enhance his understanding of the world today. His adoring grandchildren will miss him dearly, as will his loving wife and his devoted children. John D. Schupper was a one-of-a-kind. His unique humor and his passion for life and for those he loved will forever be remembered and cherished.

A funeral service for John will be held Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 10:30am at Temple B'nai Jeshurun, 1025 South Orange Avenue, Short Hills, New Jersey 07078. Following the funeral service interment will be private.

The family suggests that donations in memory of John be made to ComfortProject 360 at (https://www.rwjbh.org/cooperman-barnabas-medical-center/giving/comfort-project-360/give-to-comfort-project-360/) or to benefit cancer research at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center either online to cbmcgiving.org (https://www.rwjbh.org/cooperman-barnabas-medical-center/giving/?utm_source=cbmcgiving.org&utm_campaign=rackspace&utm_medium=redirect) or by phone at 973-322-4330. Checks made out to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center can also be mailed to CBMC Development Department, 95 Old Short Hills Road, West Orange, NJ 07052.