MANCHESTER — The Leisure Knoll Owls senior softball team is paying tribute to its late president, John E. Glover, whose longtime leadership and dedication to fellow veterans left a lasting mark on the community.
Glover, a proud U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Korean War, died in September at age 97. Teammates said his commitment to service — both on and off the field — defined his years with the Owls, where he fostered camaraderie and encouraged support for active-duty military personnel.
In his honor, the team is encouraging residents to contribute to the “Send a Hero Home for the Holidays” program, which helps service members stationed in New Jersey travel home to be with their families. Donations can be made at www.sendaherohome.org.
Glover’s devotion to veterans was rooted in his own military service aboard the USS Baltimore. He continued that mission in civilian life as a member of the Leisure Knoll Veterans Club.
Born in Passaic and raised in Nutley, Glover built a life centered on faith, family and community service. He was a volunteer firefighter in Garfield, a longtime church member, and a spirited leader within the Owls softball league.
Glover was predeceased by his wife, Florence, and is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who remember him as a man guided by faith, kindness, and unwavering patriotism.
Teammates say honoring Glover through a cause he cared deeply about is a fitting tribute to a man who spent his life lifting others.
