Obituary of John F. Apgar, Jr.

John F. Apgar, Jr., a longtime resident of the Mendham, New Jersey, area, passed away on November 23, 2018 at the age of 82.  John attended Morristown High School where he played baseball and where his interest in fine art began. Upon graduation he attended art school in Newark, New Jersey, on a scholarship. He subsequently used his artistic abilities working in advertising for several years while he continued to create art. He also undertook a missionary trip to the Amazon River basin as part of his social commitment, living with indigenous people for an extended time. As the military draft increased precipitously during the Vietnam War, John enlisted in the intelligence branch of the US Army and was promoted to Lieutenant. After his Army service, John opened his own art gallery in Bernardsville, NJ, and also worked for Wells Fargo Bank in the security division. Furthering his social commitment, he taught English as a second language for prospective employees at Patterson Hospital. He then worked for 20 years as gallery director for Bartfield Galleries, NYC, the oldest gallery in the United States specializing in art of the American West, until his retirement. John lived an extraordinary and fulfilling life and showed so many people how to find beauty in a work of art.

He was predeceased by his wife Juanita and is survived by his brother Richard and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 27th from 10 to 11:30 am followed by an 11:30 am service, all at Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Rd, Mendham NJ 07945. An interment to follow at the Mendham Hilltop Cemetery, 18 Hilltop Road, Mendham NJ 07945.