John J. Xenakis

John J. Xenakis, 85, of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026 following a remarkable life filled with service, dedication, and love for his family, friends and community. John was born and raised in Haverhill, Massachusetts, to John and Sophia (Papoutsy) Xenakis. At an early age he showed a natural curiosity about how things worked, learning and loving to tinker, especially with cars. The family spent treasured summers at Salisbury Beach in New Hampshire, which inspired his life-long love of the shore. He wasn’t above causing a little bit of trouble including leveraging his passion for automobiles to take his mother’s car apart and, eventually, put it back together with no parts to spare. John left Haverhill to pursue his bachelor’s degree at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. There he served as Commander of the 12th Regiment of the National Society of Pershing Rifles, an elite ROTC program. Following graduation, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army where he began a long and proud career serving his country. His twenty years of service included deployments to Korea, Vietnam, and Cambodia as well as assignments in Orléans, France; Santiago, Chile; Fort Knox, Kentucky; and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. However, it was at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey where he spent the majority of his military career and served in many leadership roles including Inspector General for the Army Communications-Electronics Command. During his military service, he also earned his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University, reflecting his dedication to both leadership and continued learning. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After retiring from active duty, he transitioned into defense contracting ultimately founding Xeco Logic Systems—leveraging both his technical expertise and entrepreneurial spirit. During his time stationed in Orléans, John met and married a beautiful Army nurse named Maria Druzgal, who was captivated by his baby-blue eyes. She became the love of his life. John and Maria had a fairytale courtship in France, including Sunday dinners at the Metropole Hotel in Tours. Together they built a beautiful family and created 59 years of cherished memories. John was a devoted husband and father and prioritized spending time with those he loved: coaching his kids’ sports teams; helping with homework; taking road trips to see family far and wide; fixing friends’ cars; helping with home improvement projects; and enjoying time (and occasionally cheating at cards) with close friends at Long Beach Island, NJ. Beyond his professional accomplishments and devotion to family life, John had a sharp sense of humor that could light up any room. He was both intellectually curious, speaking four languages fluently, and delightfully goofy when the moment called for it. A lifelong fan of baseball and the Boston Red Sox, he also enjoyed playing golf and giving back to his community through the Eatontown Lions Club, where he served as a longtime member, President and Treasurer. John is survived by his beloved wife Maria; their three children Christina, John Paul, and Michael; daughters-in-law Heather and Eden; as well as four grandchildren: Claire, Clementine, Jude, and Sabine. He is also survived by his brothers Jeff and Ted and sisters-in-law Eileen and Bernadette. His older sister Photinie passed away just one day after him on April 2. John’s legacy is one of steadfast service—to his country, his community, and, above all, to those he loved. He will be remembered for his generosity, humor, and the enduring impact he had on all who knew him. A memorial gathering will be held on Tuesday, April 28th from 9:30-11:30 am at Bongarzone Funeral Home in Tinton Falls, NJ with a luncheon to follow to celebrate John’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in John’s honor be made to Alzheimer’s New Jersey https://www.alznj.org/ or to the charity of your choice.

John J. Xenakis

July 21, 1940 - April 1, 2026