John Cross

John P. Cross, 88 of Roseland passed away peacefully on January 12, 2020 surrounded by his loving family.
Funeral is from the Galante Funeral Home, 54 Roseland Ave. Caldwell on Thursday at 8:30 AM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Roseland at 10 AM. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation is on Wednesday from 3-8 PM at the funeral home.
Born in Newark, John lived in Roseland since 1973. He had a long, storied career in law enforcement. After starting out as a patrolman for the Newark Police Department in 1959, John was promoted to Sergeant in 1967, later serving on the Auto Squad. In 1971, John attained the rank of Lieutenant, and was in charge of the Team Police Unit, and oversaw a 26% drop in crime in the highest crime areas. In 1975, John was promoted to Captain, and headed the Narcotics Bureau. After becoming an Inspector in 1980, John was bestowed the rank of Deputy Chief in 1982, which he held until his retirement from the Newark Police Department in 1989. In 1990, John went to work for the Township of East Brunswick as their Director of Public Safety, and was in charge of both their Police and Fire Department until his retirement in December 1996. Throughout his 40 years of service to Newark and East Brunswick, Mr. Cross was commended with seven citations for bravery and meritorious service.
John was the beloved husband to the late Anne J. (nee D'Andrea) Cross; loving father of Gary Cross and his wife Lisa, and Glen Cross and his wife Diane; cherished grandfather of Gary, Jr., Michael and his wife Melissa, Andrew and his wife Sarah, and Jenna Anne; dear great-grandfather of Michael Richard Cross and Julianna Anne Cross. He was also the brother of Robert (Bobby) Cross and Wayne Cross, and the late William (Billy) Cross and Donald Cross. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
John held his family paramount to all else, and will be deeply missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.