John Edward Gulow

John Edward Gulow of Chatham, MA, formerly of Parsippany, NJ, passed away peacefully at home in the night June 20th, 2026.  He was the beloved husband of Melody Irene (Chrobak) Gulow.  John was predeceased by his son John A. Gulow, step son Ryan Chrobak, and sister Mary Evelyn (“Evie”) Van Ostenbridge.  John is survived by his son Michael E. Gulow (wife Robin), step daughter Julie Chrobak, daughter-in-law Lucy Chrobak, grandsons Ian Gulow, and Michael A. Gulow, granddaughters Ashley Taylor (husband Brian Soares), Liana Mighty (husband Stuart), Molly Taylor, great grandchildren Damien Mighty, Leah Mighty, and Harper Mighty. 
Born in Milwaukee, WI to John Anders Gulow and Gunnvor (Annexstad) Gulow originally from Sandefjord, Norway and later Rutherford, New Jersey, John was raised primarily in New Jersey. He graduated with the Rutherford High School class of 1949.  In 1953 John graduated from Newark College of Engineering (now New Jersey Institute of Technology) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, and in 1966 with his Master of Engineering degree. 
Upon his graduation in 1953, John was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force Reserve as a result of his AFROTC during college.  He then had a 6-week assignment at Otis AFB in Truro, MA and his introduction to Cape Cod created a dream that would take many years and many visits to come true.  Called into active duty in 1955, John was stationed at Kirtland, AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico working as a 1st Lieutenant Test Project Officer with the 4925th Test Group (Atomic). There he conducted nuclear weapon compatibility test programs with new century series tactical fighter aircraft during their flight tests at Edward AFB in California.
Upon discharge from the USAF, John worked in the family business, Gulow Transformer Co., Inc., Rutherford, NJ.  Later at Curtis-Wright Electronics Division in Carlstadt as a design engineer for flight simulator systems. Upon his father’s retirement, John became President of Gulow Electronics then a division of Ragen Precision, Inc. in Moonachie, NJ, expanding the business from transformer design and manufacture to electronics assembly and development of specialty electronic power supply systems.
John was offered and accepted a position at the Army’s Picatinny Arsenal in Dover, NJ where he would work for 32 years rising to a GS-15 Branch Chief within the Fire Control Division of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) supervising a staff of about 60 engineers and technicians.
Upon John’s retirement in 1994, his dream of living permanently on Cape Cod finally came true. John and Melody then relocated to Chatham, MA.  John soon became active with a number of volunteer activities, working for nearly 15 years with Computers for Seniors and the Academy for Lifetime Learning, affiliated with the Cape Cod Community College. He, together with two other retirees, established Internett Associates, LLP advocating the then new WebTV system and installing over 400 systems primarily on the Cape.  John was a long-time volunteer with the Chatham Railroad Museum working both as a docent and a member of the Museum’s Board.  He gave many talks on the history of the Old Colony Railroad on Cape Cod.
As a long-time member of Rotary International first in Rutherford, NJ and then in Dover, NJ where he served as Club President, John was committed to supporting the local, national, and international good works of Rotary. He continued that support with becoming a member of The Rotary Club of Chatham, MA. John was a three time Paul Harris award recipient, recognized for 30 years of perfect attendance, and for years was the author of Chatham’s club bulletin, The Chatham Light.  John embodied the Rotary principles and the motto “service above self.”  John was greatly loved by all his family and friends and highly respected by all who knew him.  He made the world better.  He will be missed but will remain in our hearts forever.
John will be interred at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA with honors at a private family gathering. 
In lieu of flowers John requested donations be given to:
The Chatham Rotary Club (PO Box 436, Chatham, MA 02633) for the scholarships they give to local deserving students.
New Jersey Institute of Technology General Scholarship Endowment Fund via check made payable to The Foundation at NJIT and attributed to the memory of John Gulow ’53, ’66 and mailed to:  Office of University Advancement-Eberhardt Hall, NJIT, 323 Martin Luther King Blvd, Newark, NJ 07102.  For NJIT online donations:  https://tinyurl.com/GulowJ
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