John J. Gruber

GRUBER - Honorable John J. “Jack”
Of Tonawanda Twp., April 19, 2020

Beloved husband of Margaret A. “Peg” Berns Gruber.  Dear father of Marcia (Salvatore) Gruber- Page, Hon. J. Mark (Mara), Martin (Annette), Michael
(Linda) Gruber, Margaret Mary (Gregory) Davis, Edward (Frances) Gruber, Madonna (Kenneth) Fick and Dr. Thomas (Dr. Aimee) Gruber.  Loving grandfather of Dr. Lauren (Dr. Patrick) Solan, Kelly (US Army Maj. Kevin) Coble, Katherine Gruber, Mariah (Derrick) Lucas, Dr. Elizabeth Anne (Andras) Brem, Rachel (Adam) Beilman, Caroline, Megan Gruber, Rebecca, Isabelle Fick, Christopher (Erin), Celine, Elena Robertson and eight great-grandchildren.  Brother of Mary (late Albert) Martin and the late Patricia (late Dr. Richard) Nowak, late Bernadine (late John) Hassler; also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Because of the Covid-19 event, Funeral and Entombment are Private. St. John the Baptist RC Church will Facebook Live the funeral Mass on their Facebook page at 1:00 PM Thursday April 23, 2020.

  St. John's Facebook page 

A Memorial Mass will be scheduled at a later date.

Memorials to Kenmore Mercy Foundations Inc, 2950 Elmwood Ave., Kenmore, NY 14217 or  Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, P.O. Box 631, Buffalo, NY 14240 are preferred.

Justice John J. “Jack” Gruber served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. from 1944 through 1950.  He was honorably discharged having achieved the rank of Sergeant.  He was part of the Army of Occupation reestablishing government and order for the German people.

He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Buffalo in 1949. After obtaining his college degree he was appointed to the Buffalo Police Department. While serving in the Buffalo Police Department he obtained his Law Degree from the University of Buffalo (1952).  President of the Student Bar Association, 1951-1952;  Lincoln Law Club - 1951;  The Bisonhead - 1951

He married Margaret Berns in 1952. They raised eight (8) children. Jack practiced law for 51 years. His law practice mainly focused on the field of Admiralty Law.  He practiced in state and federal courtrooms across the Great Lakes region of North America. “Proctor in Admiralty” is a title achieved through a certification process that recognizes a lawyer as a specialist in the practice of Admiralty Law.  Jack Gruber was the last practicing Proctor in Admiralty in Western New York.  He retired from the practice of law in 2003. 

He was elected to the first of six terms as the Town Justice for the Town of Tonawanda .  In 2001 he was appointed by the Administrative Judge for the Eighth Judicial District to serve as an Acting Judge for the Buffalo City Court, while continuing his duties as Town Justice.  In 2004 he was honored by the Erie County Magistrates Association as its’, “Magistrate of the Year”.  He retired from the position of Town Justice at the end of his term in 2007.

A proud member of the Tonawanda Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of Columbus.  He has served as the Civilian Chairman of the Western New York Armed Forces Week Committee - “Salute to Our Armed Forces” for Twenty (20) years.  In 2018 the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park selected him as the Louis R. Palma Veterans Tribute Award recipient for his many years of commitment to the veterans community.

He has served for many years as Counsel to the Captains & Lieutenants Association of Erie County.  He is a past commander of the George F. Lamm Post, No. 622, American Legion.  He is a past Judge Advocate for the Erie County American Legion.  Judges and Police Conference of Erie County, N.Y., Inc.  Other community activities include:  St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, Board of Trustees; Mount St. Mary’s Academy, Board of Trustees; Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Hope Council #3076, Town of Tonawanda Youth Court, Lecturer; Ken-Ton Task Force on Family Violence; Judge Participant in SUNY at Buffalo, Law School Moot Court Competition; Tonawanda Conservative Party-Outstanding Public Servant Award 2008,  Erie County American Legion, Past Judge Advocate; New York State Federation of Catholic School Parents, Delegate Buffalo Federation of Home School Associations, Delegate Home School Association, St. Paul’s, Kenmore, Past President Holy Name Society, St. John The Baptist, Kenmore, Past President St. Thomas More Guild of Catholic Lawyers, Past President Propeller Club, Port of Buffalo, Past President Propeller Club of the United States, Past Regional Vice President, Volunteer Spiritual Care at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center over 20 years,

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