JOHN WILLIAM JARRELL, JR. – Obituary
John William Jarrell, Jr. of Alexandria, VA, died on Monday, October 30, 2023, of complications from an injury suffered during a recent vacation in Mexico at age 54. Husband of 25 years to Becky Jo Ryan. Devoted pet parent to his beloved dogs Benny and Jojo and the late Bugsy, Calvin, Lola, Stella, Jax, and Teddy. Son of the late John William and Doris Joan (nee Martin) Jarrell. Brother of Wesley Martin Jarrell and his wife Stacey Kay (nee Myers) Jarrell, Jennifer Rose Goliash and her husband John Goliash, and the late Craig Lee Jarrell. Uncle to Cole, Maddie, Sara, and Landon. Also survived by Betty Jo Ryan (mother-in-law), Stacey Ryan (sister-in-law), Michael Ryan (brother-in-law), Brandy Chikeka (cousin-in-law), William Ryan (father-in-law), and best friends Joe Romano and Tonia Patt.
Born in Woodbury and raised in Clayton, NJ, John has been a resident of Alexandria, VA since 2001. He was a 1987 graduate of Clayton High School and proudly served in the Gulf War from December 1990 to May 1991 with the United States Army Reserve, earning the Army Commendation Medal. John returned to his education and completed a BA in History from Rutgers University in 1992. At George Washington University Law School, John was among the top of his class, served as an Associate on the Law Review, was a member of the Order of the Coif and Phi Delta Phi, and earned his JD with high honors in 1995.
John joined Mayer Brown in Washington, DC, in 1998 as an associate and became counsel in 2007. A colleague shared, “He was a gifted real estate finance lawyer and an invaluable resource for the businesses we serve. But beyond his copious skills as counsel to our clients, John was a treasured colleague, who had a brilliant mind, a no-holds-barred sense of humor that frequently left colleagues in stitches and a natural impulse to serve others. No question was too simple or too complex for John to engage and offer a practical and well-reasoned answer. Given that reputation, associates routinely turned to John for his input, knowing that he could be counted on for sage advice on virtually any topic. John’s knowledge was truly formidable. As one colleague remarked, ‘John was not a jack of all trades, he was a master of all trades.’ … One cannot imagine a better legal counsel, colleague, mentor or friend than John. He will be sorely missed.”
John was an avid Philly sports fan, particularly of the Eagles, Sixers, and Phillies, following them closely no matter where he was. A voracious consumer of pop culture, he enjoyed watching movies and television and adored trivia nights. John was also a keen observer of politics, a history buff, and an avid reader across many genres. A true animal lover, he loved all kinds of animals, particularly dogs. He also loved vacations with his wife Becky and friends, especially to Paris, Mexico, and Las Vegas. John was easy to talk to, loud, funny, and unpretentious, and he enjoyed nothing more than spending time at home with the people he cared about.
Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation on Saturday, November 18, 2023, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the BARCLAY FUNERAL HOME, 208 Maple Street, Clayton, NJ 08312, with a Celebration of Life beginning at 3:00 PM. Inurnment will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of John to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304 [https://alexandriaanimals.salsalabs.org/donate/index.html] or the Animal Welfare Association, 509 Centennial Boulevard, Voorhees, NJ 08043-9504 [https://give.awanj.org/give/443955/#!/donation/checkout]. Sign the guestbook at BarclayFuneralHome.net.