Longtime Rumson resident Rose Rimali, a member of the Rumson Senior Citizens and a communicant of Holy Cross Church, passed away on Sept. 6. She was 103.
Known to have had a “full, wonderful life,” Rose is remembered by her loved ones as a “fabulous seamstress and Italian cook who made the best meatballs in the family,” her obituary on the John E. Day Funeral Home website said.
Rumson resident and Brookdale Community College and Rutgers University professor Craig L. Scanlan passed away on Aug. 17. He was 69.
Continue reading Rumsonite, Noted Brookdale & Rutgers Professor Craig Scanlan Dies at 69
Rumson resident Alexander Joseph “AJ” Heagney, a Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) alumni, passed away on Aug. 6. He was 23.
A memorial service to celebrate AJ’s life is set for Thursday morning at 10 a.m. at Tower Hill Presbyterian Church, Harding Road, Red Bank.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, a donation in AJ’s memory be donate to a charity of your choice.
From his obituary …
“AJ will be forever remembered for his infectious smile, contagious laugh, and the ability to touch the lives of everyone around him.
“AJ had a passion for nature, snowboarding, photography, music and he loved to dance. He cared deeply for his family and friends and shared a level of kindness, compassion, and empathy for others that makes the world a better place.
“Funny, athletic, tender-hearted, energetic, and original was AJ. His sweet yet brave and strong spirit will carry-on through all who loved him.”
AJ is survived by: his mother, Leigh Roberto Heagney; his twin sister, Kailee Ann Heaney; his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends.
The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) community is mourning the death of former Athletic Director Walter Reiser.
Reiser died on Saturday at his West Long Branch home surrounded by loved ones, according to his obituary. He was 55.
Services will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today, Tuesday, at Fiore Funeral Home, Long Branch.
“Huge loss for the RFH community,” said Mary Beth Tukis Coleman on the Fair Haven Facebook page.
Walter Reiser became one of the first full-time athletic trainers in the state when he started at RFH and was named the high school’s athletic director in 1987, his obituary added. A member of Monmouth County Director Athletics Association (MCDAA), he was president for two terms and treasurer over the years. In 2000, he was named Athletic Director of the Year by the by MCDAA. He retired in 2014.
He was an active member of the Monmouth County Director of Athletics Association, where he served two terms as president and was treasurer for many years. He was recognized by that association as Athletic Director of the Year in 2000.
Known as a dedicated husband, dad and champion of good will and community causes, Reiser was a graduate of Springfield College where he earned a master’s degree in sports medicine.
He is predeceased by: his parents, Anne and Edward Reiser.
He is survived by: his wife of 28 years, Kathy; his two daughters, Emily and Allie; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ed and Terry, Rob and Kathy, Jim and Bea and their families, of Long Island, NY; his sisters-in-law and their families, Debbie and Jeff Bevino, Donna and Mike Melisi and Lisa Urbanowicz and George Salanto, of Connecticut; many cousins, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews; and many friends.
‘An avid runner all of his life, Walt is lovingly sent home to God by those who love him with the words of St. Paul, ‘having run with endurance he has finished the good race,'” his obituary said.
Following Tuesday’s visitation at Fiore, a funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Fiore Funeral Home with a burial following at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in his memory be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduates going back several decades are honoring the memory of former RFH math teacher and basketball and baseball coach, Thomas Botti.
Botti passed away in July 6 at what had become his Royal Palm Beach, Florida home in 1999 after retirement, according to his obituary on legacy.com. He was 87 and was laid to rest today at South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, FL.
Botti taught math for more than four decades and was chairman of the Math Department at RFH until the end of his tenure there in addition to coaching freshman baseball and varsity basketball.
“RIP Coach,” said RFH grad Troy Brandon on the Fair Haven Facebook page.
“He was a super teacher and class advisor to the graduationing class of 1963,” said Jacqui Foster Reynoso on the Facebook page.
“I had Mr. Botti for Algebra I in freshman year,” RFH grad Susan Mapes Zimmermann said. “My only A in mathematics, and I never did much good after that. I liked him very much.”
So, the Retro Pic(s) of the day honor the math teacher and coach with the above shots of Mr. Botti in action coaching and being a department head in the RFH yearbooks of the mid-1970s. Anyone remember who that is in the featured photo with the coach?
RIP, Mr. Botti. Coach. You are remembered.
Some things you may or may not know about Mr. Botti from his obituary …
Botti had a master’s degree in Education from New York University. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for a year, from 1950 to 1951.
He worked summers at Monmouth Park in Oceanport while teaching and became a mutual clerk after retirement. He enjoyed golf and ceramic painting.
Mr. Botti is survived by: his wife, Vivian; daughter, Liz Newsome and son-in-law John Newsome, of Wellington, Fl.; and daughter Cindy Morgan, of Hackensack; grandson, Spencer Morgan, of Montclair; and granddaughters Emily and Katherine Newsome, of Wellington, FL.
The Rumson community is mourning the loss of 51-year-old Kenneth Robert Swain, Jr., who died suddenly at his Rumson home on June 12, according to bloomberg.com.
Swain, a U.S. Army veteran and managing director the Red Bank office of BTIG, LLC, a hedge and mutual fund equity trading services company, was known as a “larger than life man with the biggest of hearts, who was often the first to volunteer his time and support to the community,” his obituary from Thompson Memorial Home said. “He was a loving and dedicated husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and an amazing friend …”
Swain, a football and basketball coach, was on the board of the RFH Touchdown Club and AYF. He was a graduate of Radford University, his obituary said.
Kenny is survived by: his wife of 16 years, Kim; his seven children, Meghan, Kenny, Tommy, John, Julia, Paige and Colin; his sister, Diane Swain Korsh, of Encinitas, CA; his brother, Clifford Swain, of Moneta, VA; his parents, Kenneth and Carol Swain, of Moneta, VA; his in-laws; and beloved nieces and nephews.
Visitation is set for Wednesday, June 15, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank.
A Mass of christian burial will be held on Friday, June 17 at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, 30 Ward Avenue, Rumson. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that people consider a memorial donation in Kenny’s name to the Rumson Education Foundation, P.O. Box 395, Rumson, NJ 07760.
The following is an edited obituary of Margaret “Peggy” Werber from Thompson Memorial Home:
Former Rumson resident, business owner and community leader Margaret “Peggy” Werber passed away suddenly on Friday, June 3.
A lineal descendant of Thomas Hinckley, governor of Plymouth Colony and first governor of Massachusetts, Mrs. Werber was a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who was known to epitomize grace, intelligence and kind heartedness, her obituary from Thompson Memorial said.
Continue reading Services Set for Former Rumson Roulette Owner, Community Leader Peggy Werber
The following is Joseph Slavin’s obituary from Thompson Memorial Home:
Rumson resident Joseph T. Slavin died suddenly in his office on May 10. He was 58.
Continue reading Rumson Resident Joe Slavin Dies Suddenly at 58
It wasn’t too long ago that Brian Allison, son of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School alumni and longtime Fair Havenite Regina Lamberson Allison was asking for help for his ailing mom via a GoFundMe page.
On Friday, after succumbing to what her son told R-FH Retro in a previous interview was a battle with health issues that began in 2013 and culminated in stage four kidney cancer, Regina passed away at Jersey Shore University Medical Center on May 6. She was 56. A service will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11 at John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank.
“Regina and I were best friends in high school,” Mary McCuen said in a message on the John E. Day Funeral Home website. “She had a heart of gold and she made people laugh. She was kind, considerate and loved life. When meeting up again with her 2 years ago, she spoke of her sons and how much she missed her mother … ”
Regina’s mother was a crossing guard in Fair Haven years ago, where she grew up. She raised her son, Brian, who lives elsewhere but still volunteers at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair annually, there.
“She was a loving daughter, mother and cousin,” said Terri Drapczuk on the funeral home site. “… May she rest in peace without pain and sickness.”
From Regina’s obituary, courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home …
Born in Long Branch, Regina lived in Fair Haven before moving to Ocean Township twelve years ago. She was a medical billing clerk at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. Previously, she was a carrier for the Asbury Park Press/PCF.
Regina was predeceased by her Mother Arminda Lamberson in 2007. She is survived by: two sons, Brian L. and Justin V. Allison, both of Ocean Township; one sister, Michele Lumberton, of Laurence Harbor; and her father, Leon Lamberson, of Oakhurst.
Interment is private.
The family asks that memorial donations be made in Regina’s name to the Associated Humane Societies, 2960 Shafto Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724.
By Elaine Van Develde
He was a community pillar. He was the go-to Rumson Department of Public Works (DPW) guy for decades. He was a volunteer fireman, first aid squad member. He helped out many in need through church and many a charitable cause. He was a mentor. He was king of the zeppole-makers. He was a husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. He was a warm hometown embrace with a lot of heart, no pretense. He was Joe Sorrentino and his hometown of Rumson said goodbye to him today as he was laid to rest at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Keyport.
Joe was 81 years old. He passed away on April 2 surrounded by his loving family at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.
Continue reading Rumson Says Goodbye, Thank You to Joe Sorrentino
Longtime Rumson resident Myron “Bill” Berry passed away peacefully on March 10 after a long battle with cancer.
He was surrounded surrounded by his family and devoted friend, Nancy Kochanski.
Bill was predeceased by his wife of 41 years, Suzanne “Sue” Lucking Berry, who he met while attending Ramsey High School. After graduation, he went on to graduate from Rochester Institute of Technology. Upon finishing college, Bill and his wife moved to Amberg, Germany during Bill’s two years of service in the United States Army.
Continue reading Memorial Service for Longtime Rumson Resident Bill Berry Set
The following is Michael Gabriel’s obituary, courtesy of John E. Day Funeral Home:
Michael F. Gabriel, 56, passed away suddenly on Friday March 25, 2016.
Born in Red Bank to Frank Gabriel and Barbara Demcoe, he grew up in Rumson before moving to Monmouth Beach in 1994.
At the age of 13 he received the rank of Eagle Scout and was a junior champion skeet shooter. Mike was a 1981 graduate of the University of Miami and received his Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration. He was a passionate sports fan.
During football season, Saturdays were saved for cheering on his son who plays for his beloved Miami Hurricanes, and Sundays were devoted to the the New York Giants. From a young age, he spent his summers at Monmouth Park Racetrack, parking cars and most recently as a successful thoroughbred horse owner.
An avid golfer, he was a member of Deal Country Club and was proud to be part of The Shrimpers; and most recently he joined the Dye Preserve Golf Club in Jupiter, FL.
Mike was the Executive Director of Arcadia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hamilton Square, NJ.
He is survived by: a son and two daughters, Frank S. Gabriel, Kristin N. Gabriel and Caroline L. Gabriel, of Monmouth Beach and their mother, Amie Gabriel, of Long Branch.
Mike is also survived by: his mother, Barbara A. Gabriel, of Monmouth Beach; brother Frank Gabriel Jr., of Tarpon Springs, FL; two sisters, Lori Gabriel Petschauer, of Long Branch, and Gloria Vaccarella of Daytona Beach, FL; two nieces, Caitlin Dziedzic and Kendall Petschauer; two nephews, Gary and Michael Vaccarella.
He also leaves behind his girlfriend Kathryn Bateman of Monmouth Beach, and his beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog, Alice.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 31, at the Church of the Precious Blood, 72 Riverdale Ave., Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at www.thoroughbredaftercare.org.
Please visit Mike’s memorial website at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
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