John L. Roy

He spent his last days with children at home along with visits and phone calls with friends and relatives. He was predeceased by his wife of 68 years Alice O. Roy, his sister Francoise Turgeon and his brother Raymond Roy (all three passed in 2021). He is survived by his younger brother Benoit Roy and sister in law Michelle Roy, children Paul Roy, Richard Roy (partner Lisa Stein), Marie Caroline Roy (who was his caregiver in recent years) and Charlie Roy, daughter-in-law Katica Roy, seven grandchildren Bruno, Justine, Kellie, Juliette, Erin, Henry and Annabel, and four great grandchildren Riley, Jackson, Kinley, and Kaius.

Like Lou Gehrig said at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, John said, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth” to have spent most of his life with Alice. He also said, “I have lived a great happy life with my own family in the United States, and had a great start with my family in Quebec City, Canada including siblings Francoise, Raymond and Benoit and our parents Paul Emile Roy, Geraldine Roy and after her death in 1939, Therese Roy.”

John attended the University of Toronto where he majored in hotel administration and learned to speak English fluently. After their early years in Bermuda, where they married in 1953, Alice and John lived in northern New Jersey, and eventually moved to Sparta in 1963. Over the years he worked in hotel convention sales, primarily with the Tamiment Resort and Downingtown Hotel in Pennsylvania, and later in life ran his own company, Meetings Seminars and Conventions (MSC). He retired at age 95. He was a devout Catholic and served for decades as an usher at Our Lady of the Lake Church.

John completed the New York City Marathon twice in the 1980’s. He was always pleasant and loved talking with people. With his French Canadian accent, he charmed everyone, and always welcomed visitors to his home. He cared for Alice during her last 10 years with Alzheimer’s. He supported his children and grandchildren by attending plays, birthdays, and games. There were plenty of holiday celebrations at his family home, and numerous trips and airport runs. He is remembered for telling funny stories about meeting Canada and U.S. government leaders like Richard Nixon and celebrities including Joe Dimaggio.

A visitation for John will be held Wednesday, July 23, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main Street, Sparta, NJ 07871. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10:00 AM Thursday, July 24, 2025 at Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church, 294 S Sparta Ave, Sparta, NJ 07871.

The family requests contributions in his memory be made to the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice by clicking the link below.