In Memoriam: Former Longtime Rumsonite, Karl Gordinier Jr., of Little Silver, 85

Former longtime Rumsonite, Karl Gordinier Jr, more recently of Little Silver, passed away on July 20. He was 85.

“Karl and (his wife) Vera moved to Rumson in 1972, where they raised their three children, Peter, Karl III and Jennifer …
Karl had many passions in life, but his three main loves were family, sports and service to community. He served in leadership roles in the following: Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Boosters, president of the Rumson Pop Warner football program, Cub Scout master, and board member at the YMCA and the Monmouth County Red Cross.”
Loved ones of Karl Gordinier Jr. in his obituary

More about Karl …

Karl was born in Glen Ridge on June 10, 1939 to Karl and Thelma (Britton) Gordinier.

Growing up in Point Pleasant Beach, he attended Point Pleasant Beach High School “where he excelled both academically and athletically. He was a member of the National Honor Society, and played multiple sports — football, basketball, baseball and track. He was a captain of the football team, received All-Shore honors, and was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 1994.”

Karl attended Colgate University and later transferred to Monmouth College (now Monmouth University), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1962.

Following graduation, Karl began his career as a science teacher at Toms River High School, where he also coached football. A few years later, he returned to Monmouth College as director of Job Placement.

In 1967, he began his corporate career with International Flavors and Fragrances, Inc. (IFF) and retired in 2001 as vice president of Human Resources, North America. While working for IFF, he also held industry association roles such as president of the Flavor and Fragrance Human Resources Group and president of the NJ Compensation Association.

In 2002, Karl initiated a retiree association for IFF. He was the president and coordinator for the association until 2022. In addition, Karl always remained active with Monmouth University and held a chair position for the Student Mentoring Program.

In 2009, Monmouth hired Karl as a Consultant for their Career Services department, which is an executive advisory group for the Leon Hess Business School. In this role, Karl was able to leverage his three-decade- plus career in human resources to advise students in their search for internships and permanent employment.

In 2005, Karl was recognized as a distinguished alumnus, and was honored with the Communities and Humanities award. In addition, in 2022, Karl received the first ever Monmouth University Business Council Gloria Nilson Mark of Distinction award.

Karl married the love of his life, Vera Schomp, on Nov. 17, 1962 at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Westfield.

“Karl always expressed how fortunate he and Vera felt that his three children married such wonderful spouses: Joanne (Peter), of Park Ridge, Patty (Karl III), of Monmouth Beach, and Patrick (Jennifer), of Tiburon, CA.

His pride and joy in life were his eight grandchildren: Peter Jr. and William Gordinier (Peter and Joanne), Evan, Jamie (wife Alyssa), Quinn, and Charlie Gordinier (Karl III and Patty), and Colin and Sean Cunneen (Jennifer and Patrick). In addition to his wife, Vera, children and grandchildren, Karl is survived by his brother, Richard B. Gordinier (wife Susan) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Karl is predeceased by his parents Karl D. Gordinier and Thelma (Britton) Gordinier, as well as his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Peter T. Schomp and Virginia (Cherry) Schomp.

A gathering of remembrance will be held at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave, Red Bank, NJ 07701 from 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, and a funeral mass will be held at Holy Cross Church in Rumson at 10 a.m., on Thursday, Aug. 1. Interment will be held privately at a later date.

In remembrance of Karl’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Monmouth University Athletic Department at www.monmouth.edu, or the Disabled American Veterans at www.help.dav.org.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via John E. Day Funeral Home