Joe Gorman Remembered: Gloucester City Educator, Mentor, Friend Dies at 72

Former Gloucester City High School teacher, guidance counselor, coach, author, and community contributor spent more than four decades helping students, families, and friends.

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (November 14, 2026) — Gloucester City lost one of its most respected educators and community leaders when Joseph Patrick Gorman passed away peacefully at his home on November 11, surrounded by his family. He was 72.

For more than 40 years, Gorman served as a teacher, guidance counselor, coach, mentor, and friend to generations of students at Gloucester City High School. Long after his retirement, former students continued to seek his advice and friendship, a testament to the impact he made throughout his life.

A Personal Memory

One of my fondest memories of Joe dates back more than four decades.

After I became editor of the Gloucester City News and the Camden County Record, Joe walked into our office accompanied by several Gloucester City High School students carrying a plaque. The inscription thanked our newspaper for providing jobs to students interested in journalism.

The gesture may have seemed small, but it revealed the kind of person Joe was. He believed in recognizing people who helped others and never missed an opportunity to encourage young people.

When I learned of his passing, that moment immediately came back to me.

Joe Gorman was one of those rare individuals who always looked beyond himself and focused on helping others succeed.

Writer, Author, and Community Advocate

Following his retirement from education, Gorman remained active in the community he loved.

He published inspirational books through Amazon, contributed to the Gloucester City History in Photos page and the Title Town blog, and regularly submitted articles to the Gloucester City News. Many of his stories highlighted student achievements, athletic accomplishments, and the successes of Gloucester City graduates attending colleges throughout the country.

He never stopped encouraging others.

His Final Message

Just days before his passing, Gorman shared a reflection on social media that many now view as a final lesson from a man who spent his life guiding others:

“We deserve unconditional love and support. We deserve to be appreciated just as we are… We will never again feel desperate for another’s love and affection if we learn to love ourselves.”

Those words reflected the compassion, wisdom, and humanity that defined his life.

Community Tributes

The news of Gorman’s passing prompted an outpouring of memories from former students, friends, and residents.

Joe Carlino Jr.

“Joe Gorman helped me all of my life… He became my guidance counselor when I entered GHS in 1992. He made sure I was doing well and participated in sports. He became a great friend throughout high school.”

Shirley Cleary

“Joe was one of a kind. He was there for anyone who needed him, students, co-workers, strangers; it made no difference. He would assist and advise. That was who he was.”

Stefano Osuji

“Men like him are rare, and the impact he had on so many lives will never be forgotten.”

Lisa Burns

“Your wisdom, kindness and support through all the years will forever be remembered.”

The Jensen Family

“Joe was the best of the best. He helped so many people. He will be remembered forever by everyone.”

A Legacy That Will Endure

Joe’s family noted that all anyone needed to know about him could be summed up by a distinction he received in high school. His classmates voted him “Most Reliable.”

Those who knew him say he lived up to that title every day of his life.

He showed up for his family. He showed up for his students. He showed up for his friends.

And because he did, generations of Gloucester City residents are better for having known him.

As his family wrote in his obituary:

“Joe is leaving a beautiful legacy of love that will last generations.”

A lifelong resident of Gloucester City, NJ, he passed away at his home, surrounded by and in the loving care of his family. Joe passed peacefully at home in Gloucester City on November 11, 2026, at the age of 72.

Loving and devoted husband of Colleen M. Riccio-Gorman (nee Mulhern). Predeceased by his wife, Joanne Gorman (nee Convery). Loving father of Sean (Erin) Gorman, Keith (Shannon) Gorman and Rachel Gorman and stepfather of Emily Graves and Daniel Riccio. Cherished grandfather of Jameson, Liam, Meghan, Shane, Maeve, Kellan, Ellianna, Shea, Desmond, Rose and Mikayla. Beloved son of the late Charles A. Gorman and Sally N. Gorman (nee Hutchinson). Loving brother of Mary (Mike) Murphy, Bernadette Gorman, Ronnie (late Bob) Battersby, Chuck (Barb) Gorman, Gina (Jim) Finley, Ann Gorman, the late Rose Gorman and the late Theresa Gorman. Survived by many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.

Joe was born in Camden City and was a lifelong resident of Gloucester City. He was a long-time educator at Gloucester City High School from 1976-2017. He taught 4 years at a Catholic school. He was a guidance counselor and teacher at Gloucester High for 41 years. During his teaching career, he taught 5th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9-12th grade, both regular and special education.

He also served as a guidance counselor for 20 years. Joe dedicated his life to loving and raising his family, first and foremost. His love and care extended to his students as a teacher, counselor, mentor, coach, and later friend. All you need to know about Joe is that he was voted in High School as “Most Reliable”. He was that his entire life, never failing to show up for kids, friends, and family in need. He regularly addressed people as “Beautiful” as if it were their first name. It is truly how he saw each person he met. He was quick to shift the focus on the other person in any conversation. He was sincerely curious what he could learn from them just by listening. He possessed a level of humility not often found. Joe was a proud member of the GCHS Class of 1972 and was incredibly honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Joe is leaving a beautiful legacy of love that will last generations.

Relatives, friends, educators, current and former students are kindly invited to attend Joseph’s viewings on Saturday, November 21st from 1 to 5 pm at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City.

On Sunday, November 22nd, a viewing will be held from 1:15 to 2:45 PM at St. Mary’s R.C. Church, 426 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial 3 pm in the church. Interment will be private.

Joe’s family strongly requests, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Helen Witcraft Gloucester City Children’s Christmas Fund, P.O. Box 1071, Bellmawr, NJ 08099.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Joseph Patrick Gorman. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, Gloucester City. Ph: 856-456-1142

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• The following first appeared in 2012, when President Obama ran for a second term.

Image courtesy of iStock

Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists, and Obama supporters, et al:

We have stuck together since the late 1950s for the sake of the kids, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has clearly run its course.

Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will never agree on what is right for us all, so let’s just end it on friendly terms. We can smile, chalk it up to irreconcilable differences, and go our own way.

Here is our separation agreement:

Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by land mass, each taking a similar portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets, since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.

—We don’t like redistributive taxes, so you can keep them.

–You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU.

–Since you hate guns and war, we’ll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA, and the military.

–We’ll take the nasty, smelly oil industry and the coal mines, and you can go with wind, solar, and bio-diesel.

–You can keep Oprah, Whoopi, Bill Maher, Michael Moore, and Rosie O’Donnell. You are, however, responsible for finding a biodiesel vehicle big enough to move all five of them.

–We’ll keep capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart, and Wall Street.

–You can have your beloved lifelong welfare dwellers, food stamps, homeless, homeboys, hippies, druggies, and illegal aliens.

–We’ll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEOs, and rednecks.

–We’ll keep Bill O’Reilly and Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood.

–You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we’ll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us.

–You can have the peaceniks and war protesters.

–When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we’ll help provide them security.

–We’ll keep our Judeo-Christian values.

–You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism, political correctness, and Shirley McLaine. You can also have the UN., but we will no longer be paying the bill.

–We’ll keep the SUVs, pickup trucks, and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Volt and Leaf you can find.

–You can give everyone health care if you can find any practicing doctors.

–We’ll keep “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “The National Anthem.”

–I’m sure you’ll be happy to substitute “Imagine,” “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing,” “Kum Baya,” or “We Are the World.”

–We’ll practice trickle-down economics and you can continue to give trickle-up poverty your best shot.

–Since it often so offends you, we’ll keep our history, our name, and our flag.

Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like-minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I’ll bet you might think about which one of us will need whose help in 15 years. 

Sincerely,

John J. Wall

Law Student and an American

P.S. Also, please take George Clooney, Ted Turner, Sean Penn, Martin Short, Charlie Sheen, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, and (Hanoi) Jane Fonda with you.

P.P.S. And you won’t have to press 1 for English when you call our country.

Titles are generated by AI from Meta

Submitted by Gary Devine

CNBNEWS NOTE: 

Origins. The piece gained traction during the 2012 U.S. presidential election cycle, specifically referencing “Obama supporters,” and continues to resurface on platforms like Facebook around major election seasons. [1, 2]

Unverified Author. There is no public record confirming whether “John J. Wall” was an actual law student or simply a pseudonym used by an anonymous internet writer. [1]

• SUBMITTED BY GARY DEVINE