Jack Schellenger FREEHOLD — The borough lost a beloved volunteer when John Henry “Jack” Schellenger Jr. lost his battle with brain cancer on Feb. 3. Schellenger died at home with his wife, Jean, by his side.
Schellenger was diagnosed with brain cancer in May 2012.
Schellenger was a well-known teacher and coach and he served Freehold Borough and Freehold Township as a 25-year life member of the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad.
Squad President Jim McAllister said Schellenger served as captain of the squad three times, was a mentor to the organization’s younger members and was the squad’s cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructor.
Squad member Brian Culver said Schellenger inspired many people. The squad held a spaghetti dinner benefit for Schellenger in September, coordinated by Culver, Ashley LaBarbera, Ivan Sanchez and the squad’s captain, Jillian Kiwit. Almost $20,000 was raised to help Schellenger with expenses related to his medical care.
From that event, the Schellenger Memorial Foundation was created to benefit first responders in Monmouth County who are battling a terminal illness.
“Jack was a great man and he will be missed by many people,” Culver said. “He will live on through his memory and we will make sure the foundation we created in his honor will help other first responders in their time of need. We love you, Captain Jack.”
Kiwit said Schellenger was a mentor to her during her five years on the squad. She said she believes he had a big part in her advancement to the rank of captain, but she said she was sad because he never had the opportunity to see her reach that level.
On Facebook, LaBarbera wrote, “I lost the greatest man I know; one who has gone above and beyond for so many people throughout his life. Captain Jack, you will be truly missed and never forgotten. You’re an amazing man. I love you, Jack.”
Sanchez said, “Jack was a great man. He had the knowledge that not many can say they possess these days, it was all from experience. This is what made him a great EMT, mentor and person. From the first time I met Jack, whenever I had a question, he was right there with a long story from his past to explain it to me. Jack and his stories will greatly be missed.”
Schellenger was born in Wildwood and was a graduate of Manasquan High School and Missouri Valley College, Marshall, Mo. He lived in Freehold Borough for 44 years.
He was a physical education teacher and a coach at Marlboro High School and Freehold High School, and a coach at Manasquan High School before his retirement. He was a former lieutenant for the Cape May Beach Patrol.
Doug Daubert, who coaches girls field hockey at Colts Neck High School, played basketball at Marlboro for Schellenger. He recalled a coach who had a great love for the sport.
“Schelly was great.” he said. “He had a passion for the game. He always made sure we were well prepared.”
Daubert remembers Schellenger as more than a basketball coach. He said his coach was an “inspiration” to him.
“Looking back, he was a role model,” Daubert said. “We talked a lot. He was a guy you could relate to. We really looked at him as a person, [not a coach].”
Daubert said that when he started coaching the Freehold High School girls basketball team, “I picked his brain. I picked up a wealth of knowledge from him.”
Daubert said that in addition to his coaching skills, Schellenger had another talent — trivia.
Daubert remembered sitting on a bus going to and from basketball games listening to Schellenger and another Marlboro player, Jim Nantz, trading bits of trivia back and forth. Daubert was picking Schellenger’s brain for knowledge as well.
After Schellenger left Marlboro in the mid-1980s, he became the assistant coach for Jack Kuhnert at Freehold High School, forming one of the best basketball staffs in the Shore Conference.