Obituaries

Famished Frog Owner Remembered as 'Blessing to Many'

Jack Welch of Basking Ridge, entrepreneur and owner of many area restaurants, remembered for his faith.

This post was written by Editor Linda Sadlouskos

To those who knew only his public image, Jack Welch was a successful businessman who, with his partners in Growth Restaurants, established a string of well-known eateries, including the Bamboo Grille in Basking Ridge, The Famished Frog in Morristown, and the former Thirsty Turtle in Bernardsville and The Store in Basking Ridge, among others.

But a Monday morning memorial service for Welch held at Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church highlighted another side of his life that his friends said was growing increasingly important: his prayer groups that brought together hundreds of area residents, mostly men.

Many of those, and many more, filled the church's center court at the service for Welch, who died last Tuesday while golfing.

"He would love this turnout," said the first friend of Welch's to speak, Andrew Stewart. 

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Stewart told Welch's family that even while the two friends were spending many hours on the golf course, Welch spent much of the time talking about aspirations for his children and plans with his wife, Judi.

Stewart, who was with Welch when he died, said that Welch also talked about his deepening faith during those times.

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Welch may have seemed most at home on the golf course or in his restaurants, which is where he held many of the prayer get-togethers that a large portion of the congregation stood up to show they have attended.

Ron Peri, one of Welch's friends, said that for "guys... sitting in pews" may not be their natural element.

Bar next to early morning Bible study meetings

But for years, Peri said that Welch provided coffee and spiritual sustenance for those who gathered at groups often held at 6 a.m., even if those prayer meetings were held in places like the now-closed Willie's Taverne in Bedminster, with a bar alongside the meeting place.

There, in what Peri described as a comfortable "man cave" environment, hundreds of area men and some women talked about life issues and their faith, said each of the three friends who spoke about Welch.

"By my count, Jack was attending at least five Bible study groups a week," said Dan Bove, another local friends.

The speakers, including Liberty Corner Church's Don Feuerbach, also referred to the fact that while Welch was not perfect, his own acknowledged imperfections made him even more accessible to others.

"He was such a blessing to many," Peri said, adding that he believes that Welch's Bible study sessions will live on to impact the area through the faith of those who attended.

During the service, some of the speakers referred to events in recent weeks that seemed almost to be setting the stage for Welch's passing.

Following the service, Peri said that "a lot of things got straightened out" for Welch in those weeks.

Surprise phone call 

Although many of the events were of a personal nature, Peri said that Welch himself was shocked to receive a call on his cell phone from his mother, who has Alzheimer's and lives in Florida, right before his death.

Peri said Welch, who reached the ninth hole on the course, was around the seventh hole when his mother somehow managed to remember his cell phone number even though she had been incapacitated for years, and often didn't recognize her son.

Welch's mother told her son that she wanted him to come and take her home, Peri said.

"That's the power of God," Peri said. "Jack would have wanted people to know that."

Bove said that Welch was many things to many people, including a husband, father, friend, entrepreneur, Sudoko expert, an ultimate host, and more.

A reception at Fair Winds Catering, on the same property as the Bamboo Grille on Madisonville Road in Basking Ridge, was to follow the service.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Logan; three children Amy Baisley and husband Michael, Molly Welch, and Emily Welch; his mother Carolyn Cole; three grandchildren Abigail, Noonie, and Kate Baisley; and his two brothers Rev. Jeffrey and Daniel Welch, the obituary said. He also is survived by four stepchildren, Shane Fatzinger, Kyle Fatzinger, Todd Lehne, and Tessa Lehne McMahon.

In lieu of flowers donation may be made in his memory to the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 55, Liberty Corner, NJ 07938, Somerset Hills YMCA, 140 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, Good News Home For Women, 63 Main Street, Suite 207, Flemington NJ 08822, or Market Street Mission, 9 Market Street, Morristown, NJ 07960. Gallaway and Crane asked friends to light an online condolence candle at www.gcfuneralhome.com. 


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