John E. Leek Jr. of 81 years old and from Egg Harbor City, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 22, 2011 at his favorite place on earth, his home on the Mullica River. Born in Egg Harbor City, he was a lifetime area resident. The Leek name is the longest in USA boat building history starting back in 1712, when John's grand parent Charlie Leek set up shop in Leektown, in Atlantic City and starts to build sturdy sixty to seventy foot coastal schooners. John Leek will join his father C.P. Leek and Sons Boat Builders and become in the long run a partner and business owner, he will leave his fathers company in 1946 to found with three other business partners Egg Harbor Boat Company in 1946 but will buy all the shares in 1950 and sell the buisness in 1965. He will also found Pacemaker Boat Company in 1948 and sell it with Egg Harbor in 1965. John Leek will lastly found Ocean Yachts in 1977 which is still operational today. John Leek served our country during the Korean War in the US Army and was stationed in Whitesands, New Mexico. He was in fellowship with St. Johns Church of Christ, and was a founding member and long time supporter of Key-Rec. He was a former Egg Harbor City Council Member, and served on the board of the National Marine Manufacturers. He was an avid outdoors man and enjoyed duck hunting and sport fishing. Mr. Leek is survived by his loving wife of 59 years Beatrice; his sons, John E. III of Galloway, and Ralph N. of Sweetwater; his grandchildren, John, Lauren, Ryan, Samantha, and Heather; also, his sister-in-law, Betty Evangelist; nephews, Donald Leek, David Leek, Joseph Petrilli, and David Evangelist; and his niece, Lynn Roesch.
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