“The Jersey Shore is the land in my bones. Set me in some other landscape, one of rolling hills, towering evergreen woodlands, or amid busy city streets and I’m reeling and disorientated, wondering from which direction the scent of saltwater will come.”

Area environmentalist, Audubon Society member, Monmouth County Parks System volunteer and housing advocate, Laura Whary Hardy, passed away peacefully on Aug. 7 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, surrounded by close family, “culminating a wonderful and fulfilling life of service on behalf of New Jersey’s endangered shore and woodland birds and plants.” She was 52.

“Her love of the outdoors was infectious, and her remarkable dedication to our state’s endangered shore birds such as the Piping Plover, lead her to important positions as a Lifetime Member and Program Monitor for the NJ Audubon Society, the Monmouth County NJ and Atlanta Georgia Audubon Societies, as well as volunteer posts with the Monmouth County Parks System and the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum. Laura was fond of gardening, taking great pride in caring for her African Violets and her black Labrador Retriever Blackberry. She received her Master Gardener certification from Rutgers University Cooperative Extension in 1999. She was also a talented nature photographer and authored the highly regarded blog Somewhere in New Jersey.”

Loved ones of Laura Hardy in her obituary

Back on dry land, Laura worked most recently as a Technical Account Manager for Yardi Systems Inc., and National Housing Compliance, Tucker, GA, reporting on housing compliance. She also worked as a social worker for the Monmouth County Public Housing Authority and served as a Human Services Specialist, Bilingual, for Monmouth County Division of Social Services.

She was a gifted teacher at Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Brookdale Community College and taught Spanish and Mathematics K-8 for Middletown Township and the Lavallette Boro schools.

Laura received her master’s degree in Education from Monmouth University, West Long Branch, in 1999, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish, Cum Laude, from Montclair State University in 1992. She was a 1988 graduate of Raritan High School, Hazlet.

Laura was predeceased by: her parents, Neil and Claire; and her brothers, Neil and Steven.

Laura is survived by: her brother, Kevin Whary and his wife Michele, of Jackson; her brother, Brian Whary and his wife Jeanette Morris-Whary, of Old Bridge; two beautiful nieces, Julia Toner, of Howell, and Elyse Whary, of Jackson.

A memorial service will be held at Shrewsbury Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, all donations in her memory can be made to New Jersey Audubon Society.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home

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