John H. Cowie, III

John H. Cowie, III, 61, of Barnegat passed June 12, 2018 surrounded by his family and friends. Born in Hackensack, NJ to his late parents, John and Agnes Cowie, he was raised in Bayville, NJ where he attended Clara B. Worth grade school and was a member of the Junior Fire Rangers. John graduated Central Regional High School and earned his BS Degree in Environmental Science from the Richard Stockton College in of NJ. He devoted his life to serving others, both on a local and state level, having served as a firefighter, past president and member of the Board of Trustees with the Barnegat Fire Company, and as a Firewise Liaison and District Warden for the NJ Forest Fire Service.

He was instrumental in the forming of the New Jersey Fire Safety Council. He also worked with the state to add the Ready, Set, Go! Program as one of the Emergency Management & Resiliency actions that communities could take to earn points for the Sustainable New Jersey program that provides grants and resources to municipalities in New Jersey. Over the years, John provided valuable input to help grow and improve the program nationally including working on a team that toured the state of Texas after their devastating fires in 2011 to deliver our first RSG trainings, making a major impact.  

John’s work with the Ready, Set, Go! Program is one of the many legacies he will leave behind. He will always be remembered for his dedication and hard work to make his community safer for his colleagues and area residents alike.   

Surviving are his fiancé, Sharon Ragonese; his son, John Cowie, IV and wife Jessica; grandson, James; three step-children, Shannon Thrasher, Walter Horner and Kelly Horner; eight step-grandchildren, Taylor, Thomas, Aaron, Teagan, Joseph, Olivia, Maximus and Christian; his sister, Nancy Headley and husband John; niece and nephew, Jennifer Place and husband Kevin, John Headley, Jr. and wife Erin; many loving grand nieces and nephews and his beloved pets, Sienna, Pearl, Baby Jess, Booby Bird and Honker.

Viewing Saturday, June 16 from 12 to 4 PM with Funeral Services to follow 4 PM at Barnegat Funeral Home, 841 W. Bay Ave., Barnegat, NJ. Services will conclude with Barnegat Fire Company Honors and Procession. Cremation will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Barnegat Fire Co., P.O. Box 539, Barnegat, NJ 08005 appreciated. (www.BarnegatFH.com)

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