Saint Joseph High School is saddened to announce the passing of John P. Shibles, a member of the inaugural Class of 1965 and extremely generous benefactor.
John was a proud Falcon and was always looking for opportunities to make Saint Joe’s a better place for young men to learn and follow in the footsteps of the Brothers of Sacred Heart.
“My heart is heavy as we mourn the loss of esteemed alumnus, John Shibles,” Saint Joseph President John G. Nolan, Jr. said. “Over the past 50 years, John contributed his time, talent and treasure to ensure that Saint Joe’s students can experience the same journey that he did in the 1960s. John is the model for Saint Joe’s brothers, past, present and future. I am grateful to have built a strong relationship with John and send my prayers to his wife, Jill, and the rest of the Shibles family.”
Shibles and his late wife Teri built the Memorial Courtyard and 9/11 Memorial during the school’s first capital campaign in 2003. Teri designed the courtyard with John, using his Saint Joe’s experience as inspiration.
Across from the memorial wall and 9/11 monument, Shibles commissioned a sculpture called “Guidance” to honor his lifelong mentor Brother Ronald Cairns, S.C. His most recent gift overhauled the Falcons Robotics program, including new 3D printers and a redesign of the entire makerspace.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my friend and fellow Saint Joe’s brother, John Shibles,” John Langdon, Chairman of the Saint Joseph Board of Directors, said. “John was an instrumental part of the Saint Joe’s community for over 50 years. From his creation of the Memorial Courtyard to his recent support of the Falcons Robotics team, John left a positive mark across the entire Saint Joseph family. He will be greatly missed.”
John, along with Class Chair Ron Sheldon, was a proud founding member of a weekly social reunion for the Class of 1965.
“John Shibles had an incredible impact in many of our lives,” Sheldon said. “He was kind, compassionate, and generous. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched. Our friendship will be forever cherished. May his soul rest in the presence of Our Lord.”
After earning his undergraduate degree from Quincy University and his masters in business administration from Pace University, Shibles became an award winning real estate investor, with ownership or partnerships in 47 projects including houses and condos, as well as retail partnerships with Home Depot, CVS and Chipotle.
John was predeceased by his first wife, Teresa, in 2013. He is survived by his wife, Jill Devlin Shibles, a fellow classic car enthusiast who would travel with him to shows around the world; sons, Prescott and his wife Naomi, along with his grandson, Rowan, and John Christopher and his wife, Elizabeth, along with his grandchildren, Ryan, Colin, Brendan and Claire; his sister, Laura Jane Shibles; and many nieces and nephews.
“John was very much a sustaining part of the first graduating class at Saint Joe's,” classmate Msgr. Charles Cicerale ‘65 said. “In many ways he was a ‘classic,’ not only in his love of classic cars, but in his sense of humor and his supportive friendship. He was a man who had faithful trust in the Lord.”
A Saint Joseph Cor Jesu Award recipient, John will be posthumously honored at the fourth annual Green Tie Gala with the Fr. Andre Coindre Service Award on November 11.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 26, from 3-7 p.m. at Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Rt. 524), Freehold Township, NJ 07728.
A funeral mass will take place Thursday, July 27 at 10 a.m. at St. Catharine Church, 215 Essex Ave, Spring Lake, NJ 07762.
In lieu of flowers, the Shibles Family has created The John P. Shibles Memorial Scholarship fund to benefit Saint Joseph High School. Click here for more information.