It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John J. Clancy, founder of CEC. Mr. Clancy founded the programs that later became Community Education Centers in the 1970s and 1980s in New Jersey with the goal of assisting those afflicted with drug and alcohol dependency and those returning to the community from prison to facilitate their reentry into society. For 40 years he fought passionately to bring hope to those who needed a helping hand in focusing on their recovery from addiction and imprisonment. In time, his model for doing so became the hallmark of CEC around the United States and elsewhere and has been the vehicle for helping many thousands of former prisoners and addicts successfully return to lives which break the chain of dependency and have given them and society the benefit of productive new lives.
Those who knew him were aware that Mr. Clancy cared deeply about those who found themselves on the margins of society due to addiction and imprisonment, and he devoted his life to creating programs and facilities, a national company and numerous charities which worked to alleviate their pain and move toward recovery on all levels. His family, the many thousands of program alumni, colleagues, and those who worked with and for him in these endeavors, will miss him.
Sad to hear this news! Prayers for his family.
My deepest condolence to the family of Mr. John Clancy’s family.
May his soul rest in solemn peace and may his lagacy lives forever
May he rest in peace I am grateful to have met such a great man..
Today we lost a champion for reentry and second chances. I would like to thank Mr. Clancy for giving me an opportunity that very few others would have. I work and learned at your facility for many years after years of drug addiction and incarceration. You are my champion! Rest In Peace
You dedicated your life to helping others. After years of drug addiction and incarceration you gave me an opportunity to work at and grow with your organization when many other close their doors. Thanks for championing the cause for positive reentry and second chances.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. I have wonderful thoughts of this man. He has built a lasting legacy that will stand the test of time.
My prayers and deepest condolences to the Clancy family and the Community Education Center employees.
Former employee.
You dedicated your life to helping others, His Legacy will live forever. Rest in peace.
gone but not forgotten may you rest in peace Mr. John Clancy my deepest sympathy to the family I know what its like to loose someone very close to you
My prayers goes out to the clancy family, may you rest in peace Mr. Clancy.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5New International Version (NIV)
Praise to the God of All Comfort
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ
I have had the good fortune of knowing John for over 50 years. We had apartments in Fairview, NJ and shared many laughs together in those very early days of the 70’s. John went on to work at the “Bridge” and I became a Union Official. We worked together at the “Harbor in the early 80’s. That is essentially where he began his great career in treating people with various addictions. As successful as he became, he never lost sight of the many people who continue to suffer with alcohol and drug abuse. He was a great friend and will be missed by many.
my condolences to the Clancy family, my heart is saddened, mr Clancy was a great man, with a vision beyond words, that subsequently evolved into the impacting of lives nationally, I am happy to have had the dual fortune of having benefited from his vision, and then playing my role in assisting his vision to manifest into a national model as an employee. you are and always will be apart of my life, my families life, as you have shown me in which way we should live. ” in the service of others”. your contribution to society/world shall go on forever…..WE will ensure that in how we live….alumni member since 1998. I close as we would often say as we depart, or close a notation, “one life at a time”…….thank you!
Sometimes words are not enough to describe a persons worth. This is definitely one of those times. What Mr. Clancy has done in touching so many people Lives and opening up doors of opportunity that would otherwise be shut to a specific group of people is astounding. May he rest in peace and may his family find comfort in their time of sorrow.
Thanks John for the opportunity I will forever be indebted.
Thank you for having a vision and putting it into action. My condolences to the Clancy Family. Rest in Peace Mr. Clancy.
Thank you for having a vision and putting it into action. You have helped change and save lives. My condolences to the Clancy Family. Rest in Peace Mr. Clancy .
The bIble talks about work why it is day because no man knows when night will fall. Mr. Clancy has truly work and help other to become employed and further there education. He will be truly missed, my condolences to the Clancy Family.
John Clancy was a friend and brother to me, and never lost sight of his vision. I will miss him.
I am so greatful that I’ve was given the opportunity of knowing Mr. Clancy for 26 years of working with the company. He was one of the most genuine people I knew. I will truly miss him and will never forget him.
“If I can help someone along the way, then my living will not be in vain” John Clancy’s life was not one lived in vain. His calling was a visionary one. When his desire to help others seemed an uphill climb he stayed the course. He fought tough odds to overcome adversity to put himself in position to make a difference in the life of others. Greatness to some is to be known by many without the need to be touched by any. Real greatness is best served quiet, with humility, with care, with love, and with deep appreciation for the human soul and human spirit. John Clancy exhibited these characteristics and displayed them with dignity, grace, an approachable style and a gentlemanly manner.
His idea(s) and his life’s work made a significant difference in my life and in my life’s work…I thank him for the opportunity he gave me to discover part of myself in the service to others. I will miss him and consider both his impact on my life, and his presence in it, a blessing.
May he rest in peace and leave precious memories for his family, those he loved, and those who loved him.
My condolences to the Clancy family and friends.
The love in this mans heart defined him and his actions .
Informing the World that Love is the answer .
Always
Bill Dorman
My heart is very sadden behind the loss of a great men my prayers and condolence are with his love one, May God bless his family in this time of sorrow and as the days and weeks pass, and you return to life’s routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.
I pray that God comfort his family, friends and loved ones in this time of grief
My condolences to the Clancy family. May God bless his family.
We will be fortunate to meet some people that will influence us, teach us, and help us be better each day we walk the earth. Anyone in Johns presence has been touched by his extraordinary gift to help others. He stood for openness, vision and helping others. I have been truly blessed to have worked with him and learned from him. God bless you my friend
Missed a great man who care for others not just his own need. My condolence to all his family, friends and CEC members.
My deepest condolences to the Clancy family.
I first met John when he came to see me about opening a community correction center in Trenton , nj.
I was immediately impressed by his passion to help incarcerated men and women learn skills and increase their ability to get a second chance at life .
After much controversy and struggles to overcome neighborhood concerns I supported the opening of what is now called the Alber Bo Robinson house in Trenton.
John has truly transformed residents lives as well as the employees who have worked with the residents.
We both share our love of the Yankees and celebrated their championships and commiserated their defeats.
We were friends that transcended our working relationship .
He was a blessing to me and all who knew him.
A great guy who did it his way.
I’m saddened to hear of this and my heart goes out to his family and friend with the sincerest condolences. I miss him already he always showed me love and respect. He’ll always be remembered for his passion of helping those who otherwise saw no way and his welcoming smile……
The passing of Mr.John Clancy will forever yield sadness for all ex-offenders with or without a drug or alcohol addiction. I would be remised if I didn’t mention and thank Mr.Clancy for assisting me in my journey. When I first got hired at C.E.C. my license was suspended and I had an unfinished college degree. By my 3rd year employed at C.E.C., I had a license, went back to college and was working on attaining a CADC license. Mr.Clancy main objective was to find a means to stopping this ugly monster of recidivism and arresting addictions that appear to be one of the major causes of crime. Through employment at C.E.C. Mr.Clancy made CADC classes free and opened the door for ex-offenders to work in a professional environment helping others stay out of jail. Working for C.E.C. for 10 years I had achieved my MS in Criminal Justice and a CADC license, all due to Mr. Clancy giving people like myself a chance. There aren’t any words to express my appreciation for Mr.Clancy, but may God continue to bless him and allow him to open up a program in heaven that I’m sure will be needed.
I-just-want-to-say-you-surely-will-Be-missed-and-I-really-appreciated-the-moments-that-I-spent-in-your-presence.
I-will-hold-on-to-the-last-time-we-sat-in-the-caffeteria-and-had-lunch-at-Corporate-and-you-shared-with-me-some-of-your-future-vision-for-CEC.
Rest-In-Peace
I worked for Mr Clancy during the 1980s and the 1990 s@ the Harbor as a counselor. He was one of the best boss’s I have ever worked out for. He will be missed because his program helped many people.