John Joseph “JJ” Seeberger, loving husband, father, brother, and grandfather passed away peacefully on December 23, 2022, at the family’s “Deep Run Farm” in Madison, Virginia. He was 86 years old.

JJ was born December 5, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in the Bronx. After graduating from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1954, he received an appointment to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. As he was readying to depart for Kings Point, he was notified of his acceptance to the U.S. Naval Academy. JJ chose to study at Annapolis and graduated with the class of 1958.

JJ received his naval aviation “wings of gold” in 1959 in Pensacola, Florida. He flew the S-2F Tracker, affectionately called the “Stoof,” flying from aircraft carriers throughout the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. He loved to tell Stoof stories, one of which recounted the recovery effort for Alan Shepherd - the first American astronaut launched into space. He always made sure to delineate that he flew from the more challenging straight deck carriers versus angled deck carriers. JJ ultimately became an anti-submarine warfare expert and supported the Cuban Missile Crisis naval blockade. Later, he served as an Aeronautical Engineering Duty Officer and joined the S-3 Viking program. JJ retired as a Commander during his final tour with the Center for Naval Analyses. He received master’s degrees from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and Virginia Tech.

While stationed at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, he met his fiery red-head Irish bride-to-be, Patricia “Pat” Reardon. They married in 1961 and began a family after relocating to Monterey, California. It was while stationed at Patuxent River, Maryland that JJ and Pat discovered Madison County on a family camping trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Soon, a piece of land was purchased near Kinderhook, Virginia and JJ began developing new skills as a bushwhacker and cabin builder. These were memorable times for JJ and his family, affectionately referred to as their “Foxfire” period, as they spent their summers living in the woodland cabin they had built.

When JJ fully retired from the Navy and worked in the civil service as an aeronautical engineer, he and Pat planted their roots deeper in the county. They purchased land and established Deep Run Farm in the Hebron Valley. As a city kid that took to flying the skies, farming did not come naturally for JJ (known as John in Madison). His first livestock purchase— three steers—all disappeared within the first week of owning them. John sent his four children to search the farm for them with no success. The steer trio was found five miles away walking down a gravel road. This was JJ’s first lesson in livestock escape, with many more stories to come as additional animals made their home at Deep Run Farm. John and Pat’s children became involved with 4H clubs raising sheep, cattle, chickens, bees, and horses.

When John was not riding his tractor, he could be found running down one of Madison’s many country roads. He completed nineteen marathons and triathlons. In 1983, a headline in the Fredericksburg, Virginia newspaper read, “Winning doesn’t count, it’s how you run the race.” John finished last in the Heritage Festival Triathlon after administering lifesaving first aid to a fellow competitor experiencing heat stroke. He was a former member of the Madison Lions Club, a Webelos Scout Leader and the Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 41. He also previously served as a director on the Madison Troop Support Board, which mailed monthly packages to Madison County service members deployed overseas. As an engineer, John loved to tinker and kept busy with ongoing projects, one of which was working tirelessly to restore an antique British MG sports car. He proudly displayed the MG at many 4^th of July parades in Madison. He enjoyed playing his banjo, drinking a glass of wine on the porch with Pat, and playing with their late golden retriever, Boomer.

JJ is predeceased by his parents, Dorothy and John, his son, Thad, and his grandson, James. He is survived by his wife, Pat, of sixty-one years, and his three children, Kristin (Baltimore, MD), Scott (Lisa) (Bluemont, VA), and Michael (Judy) (Afton, MN); his sister, Marie, and his grandchildren, Meghan, Sarah, Garrett, Rachel, Ryan, Patrick, and Cullen.

Visitation will be held at Preddy Funeral Home in Madison from 2-4 PM on January 1. Memorial services will be held at Hebron Lutheran Church at 11 am on January 2. Instead of flowers, donations can be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project.