John H. Kineke, Jr.

John Henry Kineke Jr. died in his home on Sunday, November 29. He joined his beloved wife, Wilma, who predeceased him just sixty days prior, eight days shy of their 60th Wedding Anniversary. His son, Matthew, was at his side. In addition to Matthew, he is survived by his eldest son, Paul and his wife, Jane, grandchildren: Nicole, Rose, Samantha, Victoria, Joshua, Elise, and Tyler, and great-grandchildren: Lorelei and Leonardo. Preceded in death by his brother, Frank, he is also survived by his sister Joan, and brothers William and Edward. Born in Rockville Center, New York, on April 27, 1933, he was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Kineke Sr. of Farmingdale, New York. A bright and promising student, John attended St. Barnabus School in Bellmore, before winning a scholarship to Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, where he graduated in 1949. Four years later, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from St. John’s University in Queens. Hired by the U.S. Army in 1954, John began a career as a research physicist at the Ballistics Research Laboratory (BRL), at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland. He later would quip that “Maryland got me the same year it got the Orioles.” Shortly thereafter, he served for three years, in the U.S. Army Reserves. While at a friend’s wedding in 1958, he met Wilma Marcis of New York, New York, who became the love of his life. The two were married in 1960, and settled in Harford County. For the next 63 years, John worked as a ballistics physicist, with 40 years at BRL, and later as a consultant for Dynetics Corporation. Upon earning his Masters Degree in Physics from the University Of Delaware, the primary focus of his research was terminal ballistics. Like many of his friends and colleagues, while the majority of his work remains restricted from public knowledge, his known achievements include: spearheading the development of the warhead used in the Patriot Anti-Missile System; assisting the European Space Agency in the design of a heat shield employed on the deep space probe Giotto, used to photograph the Comet Haley; was requested by NASA to participate in the investigation of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster; was recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on the science of explosively formed penetrators. John was proud of the work he and his colleagues did for many years to advance the security of the United States and her allies as well as the field of ballistics physics. John also enjoyed participating in a variety of community and civic organizations. He was a member of St. Joan of Arc Church in Aberdeen for 66 years, assisting with various parish functions and actively participating in the liturgy. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served two terms as Grand Knight of the Havre de Grace Council. He enthusiastically supported his sons’ membership in The Boy Scouts of America, serving for 7 years as Treasurer of troop 376 in Churchville. Serving on the Route 22 Corridor Committee which considered alternatives to the expansion of Route 22 between Aberdeen and Churchville, John was acknowledged as friendly, reliable member of the community. Those who knew John H. Kineke Jr. remember him fondly as a man devoted to Jesus Christ, who loved his wife and family. He remained steadfastly dedicated to his friends, neighbors and colleagues, and grounded in a community he truly loved. A funeral mass will be held at St. Joan of Arc Church in Aberdeen, on Saturday, December 12, at 10:00.