Red Bank native, 50-year Little Silver resident and lifetime Little Silver Fire Department member, Peter “Pete” McKee Gale, died in his Red Bank home on Friday, April 5, following a long period of illness. He was 77.

Born and raised in Red Bank, Pete moved to Little Silver in 1970. He lived there for 50 years before returning to Red Bank in 2020.

Pete was a Renaissance man with diverse hobbies and interests. He was an avid sailor with the Monmouth Boat Club and garnered many awards for his sailing prowess. He was also a former chief, past president, and life member of the Little Silver Fire Department and was passionate about the service he provided to his community. He was also a fixture on the Little Silver Fire Department Softball Team, where his fierce competitiveness served him and his team well. Pete possessed a strong work ethic and a penchant for helping others. He was fascinated by trains, Native American history, and modern politics. He also loved music, with Doo Wop, Motown, and The Beach Boys being his favorites.

Born to Clarence and Helen Gale on Feb. 12, 1947, he was eldest brother of Patricia Bryer, Pamela Malhotra, Priscilla Gettis and Paul Gale.

After graduating from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Peter went on to become a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves. Using his naval skills, he became a tugboat captain for Moran Towing in NYC from June of 1969 to December of 1972. He was also secretary-treasurer of New York Tugboat Union Local 333.

Peter went on to establish his own landscaping company, Gale’s Lawn Service in 1990.

Pete is predeceased by: his parents, Clarence and Helen Gale; his sister Pamela Malhotra, who passed away on April 17, shortly after Pete.

He is survived by: his children, Kerry (Gale) Walsh, and son, Kevan Gale (Stacy); his grandchildren, Brian, Samantha, Colleen, Natalie, and Lucian; his siblings, Patricia Bryer (Dave), Priscilla Gettis, and Paul Gale (Sandy); his cousins, Hunter and Robert McKee; his nieces and nephews, Allison Payne Eckert, Jossalyn Gale, Aubrey Van Kirk Villalobos, Carly Van Kirk, Bryan Gale, Meredith Bryer, Daniel Bryer and Michael Bryer.

A memorial gathering for Pete will take place on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to noon, with a Fireman’s Service commencing at 11:30 a.m., at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Little Silver Volunteer Fire Company or Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

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

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