Obituary of John N. Dakis

It is with great sadness that the family of John Dakis announces his passing on October 15, 2011.John N. Dakis was born in New York City in 1928. He has resided in South Orange, New Jersey since 1939.A graduate of Columbia High School, Maplewood, New Jersey (1944); Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts (A.B. Degree) (1948); New York University School of Law, New York City, New York (LL.B. Degree) (1951). At Harvard he was elected to the Lowell House Committee and served as Treasurer of the House. At Law School he was elected to membership in the Field Inn Chapter of Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity and was elected Treasurer of the Inn.He spent the majority of his career working with noted New Jersey legal practitioners. He served a legal clerkship with Joseph C. Paul, Esq., 1180 Raymond Boulevard, Newark, New Jersey (1952) and with McCarter, English and Studer, 1180 Raymond Boulevard, Newark, New Jersey (1953).Mr.Dakis next served as Legal Assistant to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (1953-1954) and then as legal Assistant to William O. Barnes, Jr., Esq., 1180 Raymond Boulevard, Newark, New Jersey (1955-1978).While serving as a law clerk, Mr. Dakis worked on cutting edge issues of law, particularly in the fields of victim's rights and medical malpractice. Mr. Dakis was noted for his creativity and dedication to his clients.For many years he was active in Republican Party affairs. In the Young Republican movement he served as Chairman of the South Orange Young Republicans and held several positions with the Essex County Young Republicans, including Treasurer, State Delegate and General Counsel for 3 years. He served as Treasurer of the Young Republicans of New Jersey; National Committeeman to the Young Republican National Federation; Chairman of the Young Republicans of New Jersey; Director of the Mid-Atlantic Council of the Young Republican Federation which consists of the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware organizations. Mr. Dakis has been active in senior Republican circles, having served for 20 years as a member of the South Orange Republican County Committee; Legislative Assistant to the leader of the Essex County Assembly Delegation; Legislative Assistant to the Majority Leader of the New Jersey House of Assembly; Clerk of the House Judiciary Committee; Legislative Assistant to the Essex County Republican Delegation to the New Jersey House of Assembly. He has also served as a Trustee of Essex County's Clean Government Republican, Inc.; as a member of the New Jersey Republican State Finance Committee; a member of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and a member of the Executive Committee of the Republican State Committee. In 1964 he was elected an Alternate Delegate at Large from the State of New Jersey to the Republican National Convention in San Francisco.For over 40 years Mr. Dakis had been an officer and member of the Board of Directors of several family-held corporations. In October 1994, Mr. Dakis was recognized for his service to the Bar when the New Jersey Supreme Court offered and he accepted appointment to the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law on which he continued to serve until December 31, 2008.John will be lovingly remembered by his six nieces and nephews including Joanne Mazza, George Dakis, John Dakis, Susan Post, Robert Dakis and Nicole Rupell and his sister in law Linda Dakis. A private family service will be held at the Rosedale and Rosehill Cemetery.