Skip to content

Community mourns the loss of the quiet contributor

John O’ Rourke, long time resident will be missed by the community of Princeton.
49719princetonJohnnyO
John O’Rourke will be remembered by many as the quiet contributor and one nicest fellows you could ever meet.

John O’ Rourke arrived in Princeton in the early fifties. He married Rose Alexandre and together they raised six children; Doug, Phyl, Joanne, Colleen, Brigid and Therese.

John owned and operated O’Rourke’s Transfer, a delivery company that delivered almost anything you could think of. He delivered pop, which got him dubbed ‘Johnny Pop Bottle,’ milk, groceries, sawdust, dirt—whatever he was asked to—within reason, he did.

John was always helping people move.

“He moved my family from Allenby in to Princeton in 1957,” said Mayor Frank Armitage. “He helped a lot of people around here.”

John was best known as “The Garbage Man.” He picked up Princeton resident’s garbage for 47 years. During that time he got to know people pretty well.

John never hesitated for a second if he knew someone was in need. He was especially protective of mom’s and children, gave out many a financial loan or gift and arranged for other forms of help if necessary.

“He was a very upstanding citizen,” said former Mayor of Princeton, Mr. Randy McLean.

“John worked hard for the community for many years and provided his services at extremely reasonable rates.”

John loved to sit over coffee and chat about the news, local or otherwise. If you didn’t have the funds to pay for coffee, he simply told you to, “sit down and join me anyway— I got it.”

If you were a out for an evening and John was in the place, you had a dance partner for sure. John loved to dance, was a great dancer and made sure the ladies enjoyed themselves, whether they knew how to dance or not!

He was a man with a huge heart filled with a bounty of compassion, and John shared that freely with his community.

He will be missed.

“John was a fine citizen and a good business man,” said Mayor Armitage, “He was a man who very quietly helped many, many people. It was his nature—he was very nice to be around.”

Rest in Peace, Johnny Pop Bottle.