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Ronald S. Belka
Spring Lake Heights resident Ronald S. Belka died Wednesday, Aug. 3 in his residence after a lengthy illness.
He was 52 years old.
Born in Secaucus, he lived in Barnegat for many years before moving to Spring Lake Heights eight years ago. Mr. Belka was a self-employed insurance broker for 25 years in the shore area before retiring one year ago due to his illness. Prior to this, he had been employed in retail management for the Felsway Corporation, Totowa.
Mr. Belka’s family said that his life was dedicated to providing for them and he was extremely proud of his two daughters. He was also an avid gardener and loved the outdoors. Mr. Belka had an artistic flair and was a great cook. As a hobby, he also enjoyed riding his motorcycle and in his cars. Mr. Belka’s daughters stated that, “He always lived every day to the fullest.” He was also a communicant of St. Denis Roman Catholic Church, Manasquan.
Mr. Belka was predeceased by his father Stanley Belka.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Judith A. Racioppi Belka; daughters Kristin and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Belka, Spring Lake Heights; his mother Sally Belka, Howell; three brothers and their spouses, Martin and Sophie Sampson, Barnegat, Glenn and Jo Belka, Alpharetta, Ga., and Bryan and Maureen Belka, Westfield; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were from the O’Brien Funeral Home, Wall Township.
Ralph J. Rapisardi
Elberon and former Wall Township resident Ralph J. Rapisardi died Wednesday, Aug. 3 at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch.
He was 90 years old.
Born in Newark, Mr. Rapisardi lived in Holmdel, and then in Wall Township for four years before moving to Elberon 23 years ago. He was a longtime communicant of St. Michael’s Church, West End, Long Branch. Mr. Rapisardi was a combat Army veteran of World War II. He attended grade and high school in Essex county and completed his studies at Newark College of Engineering. Mr. Rapisardi’s career in the malt beverage industry started in 1948 when he was hired as a sales representative by Anheuser-Busch, Inc. During his tenure, he rose through the ranks of sales supervisor, branch manager and director of branches and sales manager. In 1969, Mr. Rapisardi entered into the private enterprise sector of the malt beverage industry. He purchased Crown Beer Distributors, Inc., an Anheuser-Busch wholesalership for Monmouth and Ocean counties, where he served as president and CEO. Mr. Rapisardi’s involvement in business, charitable and community activities could fill a book. He served as a member, and later as chairman, of the Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler Advisory Panel, Eagle Snacks Division; founder and director of the Wall Chamber of Commerce and was a recipient of the man of the year award; was past director of the Mid-Atlantic Bank; the director and treasurer of the Beer Wholesaler’s Association of New Jersey; a member of the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council, and was awarded the Silver Gull by that group; director of Monmouth-Ocean Multiple Sclerosis Society; director of the Boy Scouts of America; member of the President’s Council of Monmouth College; he also made numerous contributions to the Monmouth Medical Center, Paul Kimball Hospital, Muscular Dystrophy Drive, PNC Arts Center, and many, many others. Mr. Rapisardi also contributed a cafeteria to the Mental Health Department at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, in addition to a lobby for its new wing. Locally, he sponsored teams in many areas of recreation and helped with the installation of lights at Wall High School field, he helped the K-9 cops, he was active in the “invest” in a COP program, not to mention the first aid and fire departments. Mr. Rapisardi was also honored as Wall Township Republican Club’s citizen of the year.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years Evelyn Kosty Rapisardi; son Paul and his wife Margaret “Peggy” Rapisardi, Wall; daughter Wendy and her husband Robert Jones, Interlaken; step-daughters Leslie DeAngelo, Spring Hill, Fla., and Alyssa Rodgers, Flemington; brother John Rapisardi, Whippany; and grandchildren Melissa and Victor Rapisardi, Cara and Adam Jones, and Tyler Rodgers.
The funeral arrangements were from the O’Brien Funeral Home, Wall.
Charles Paul O’Neill
Brielle resident Charles Paul O’Neill died Friday, Aug. 5 at Sunnyside Manor, Wall Township.
He was 73 years old.
Born in Newark, Mr. O’Neill lived in Montclair before coming to Brielle in 1971. He was an attorney with New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company in Trenton, before retiring in 1998. Mr. O’Neill was a graduate of Seton Hall Prep, Seton Hall University, and Seton Hall Law School, and was a U.S. Army veteran serving as a First Lieutenant with the military police.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years Helen “Lyn” Neukum O’Neill and his daughter Kathleen O’Neill. The funeral arrangements were from the O’Brien Funeral Home, Wall.
Zita G. O’Brien Kervick
Avon-by-the-Sea resident Zita G. O’Brien Kervick died Saturday, Aug. 6 at Manor by the Sea Care Center, Ocean Grove.
She was 92 years old.
Born and raised in Elizabeth, Mrs. Kervick lived in Cranford for many years before coming to Avon in 1979. She was a graduate of Benedictine Academy, Elizabeth, and Panzer College, now part of Monclair State University. Mrs. Kervick was a homemaker and communicant of St. Elizabeth’s Church, Avon.
She was predeceased by her husband James F. Kervick; daughter Carol Kervick; and by her seven siblings.
Mrs. Kervick is survived by her son James. B. Kervick; her nephew James Groll; and several other nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were from the O’Brien Funeral Home, Wall Township. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, P.O. Box 130819, Houston, Texas 77219-0819.
William Francis Sabota Jr.
Neptune and former Wall Township resident William Francis Sabota Jr. died Saturday, Aug. 6 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune.
He was 74 years old.
Born in Mt. Pleasant, Pa., Mr. Sabota lived in New Providence, and then in Wall Township for 10 years before moving to Neptune 10 years ago. He was a parishioner of St. Catherine’s and St. Margaret’s Parish, Spring Lake. Mr. Sabota received his MBA from New York University and had served in the U.S. Army, being honorably discharged with the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was employed at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey [UMDNJ], Newark, as the vice president of human resources for three years. Prior to this, Mr. Sabota was employed as the director of employee relations at the Exxon Corporation, Florham Park, for 30 years.
Mr. Sabota was predeceased by by his brother Frederick Sabota.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years Doris “Arlene” Jeffries Sabota; daughters Laura Braumbaugh, Katy, Texas, Lynn Cadigan, Wall Township, Christine Sabota, Galloway Township, and Doris McCrann, Bernardsville; grandchildren James, Emily, and Cole Cadigan, Lauren, Kalie, and Renee Braumbaugh, and Dalton and Austin McCrann.
Funeral arrangements were from the O’Brien Funeral Home, Wall.
Monsignor Harrold A. Murray
Manasquan and former Sea Girt resident Monsignor Harrold A. Murray, formerly of Short Hills and Newark, died Tuesday, Aug. 9 in his home after a lengthy illness.
He was 81 years old.
Visitation will be today from 2 to 5 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church, Sea Girt. A vigil Mass will also be offered today at 7 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church, Sea Girt. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Aug. 12 at St. Rose of Lima Church, Short Hills, at 11:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Holy Sepluchre cemetery in East Orange. Arrangements were from the McDonough Funeral Home, Wall.
The monsignor’s complete obituary will appear in next week’s issue.
John G. “Jack” Fitzpatrick
Avon-by-the-Sea resident John G. “Jack” Fitzpatrick died Sunday, Aug. 7 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, surrounded by his loving family.
He was 78 years old.
Born in Harrison, Mr. Fitzpatrick raised his family in Kearny and North Caldwell before retiring to Toms River and moving to Avon eight years ago. He was a 1946 graduate of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark and attended Seton Hall University. Mr. Fitzpatrick served in the Army in Korea and later enlisted in the Navy Reserve. After leaving the family business, Fitzpatrick Flowers, Kearny, in the late 1950s, he served as marketing director and vice president for N.J. Brass and Paterson Brass Manufacturing Companies before starting his own business — U.S. Back-Up Flange, Caldwell. Mr. Fitzpatrick’s company’s innovations in the introduction of nickel, aluminum and bronze for submarine vessels resulted in more efficient and quieter operation and detection deterrent.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years Georgine Gauch Fitzpatrick; sons and their wives Brian and Angela, Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Gregory and Kelly of Freeport, Maine; daughter Beth Fusco, Mendham; and grandchildren Austin and Matthew Fusco, and Shannon, Corrine and Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick.
The funeral is scheduled for today at 9:45 a.m. from the O’Brien Funeral Home, Highway 35 at New Bedford Road, Wall Township followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth’s Church, 424 Lincoln Ave., Avon. In lieu of flowers, send donations to St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, 520 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Newark, 07102.
Mary Frances McKenney
Manasquan resident Mary Frances McKenney died Friday, Aug. 5 in the Geraldine Thompson Care Center, Allenwood.
She was 108 years old.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Ms. McKenney lived in Pennsylvania for many years before moving to Manasquan 14 years ago. She spent many years working as a bank teller at the PNC Bank in Morton, Pa., before retiring in 1962. Ms. McKenney then worked for borough hall in Morton, Pa., before retiring in 1989. She was a parishioner of the Church of Atonement, Morton, Pa.
Ms. McKenney is survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral arrangements were from DeGraff Lakehurst Funeral Home, Lakehurst. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Manasquan Library, Broad Street, Manasquan, 08736.
Kathryn Marie McNamara
Brick resident Kathryn Marie McNamara, formerly of Wall Township, died Monday, Aug. 8 in Ocean Medical Center, Brick.
Born in Jersey City, Mrs. McNamara lived most of her life in Wall before moving to Brick after her retirement to live with her daughter.
She was a school teacher for many years before her retirement. Mrs. McNamara worked for the Brick Township Board of Education in Lanes Mill School. She was a member of the NJEA.
Mrs. McNamara was predeceased by her parents, John and Eleanor Dugan Fletcher; her husband, James J. McNamara in 1985; a son, Thomas McNamara in 1995; and a brother, John R. Fletcher in 2003.
She is survived by two sons, James J. McNamara, Jr. and his wife Sally, of the Shark River Hills section of Neptune, and John F. McNamara, Atlantic City; two daughters, Margaret McNamara-Polak and her husband Michael, Manasquan, and Kathleen Oehme and her husband George, Brick; a brother, Edward V. Fletcher, of the Shark River Hills section of Neptune; and was a beloved “Nanny” to Michaela, Colin, Samantha, Patrick, Brian and Madelyn.
Funeral arrangements were from the Reilly Funeral Home, Belmar.
Norman Haller Dieter Jr.
Brielle resident Norman Haller Dieter Jr. passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Monday, Aug. 8 in the Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation Home, Brick.
He was 79 years old.
Mr. Dieter was born in White Plains, N.Y., on Feb. 18, 1926. He resided in Pleasantville, N.Y., for 72 years and retired to Brielle seven years ago.
Mr. Dieter was a graduate of Pleasantville schools and received his bachelor of science degree and master’s in electrical engineering, magna cum laude, from the New York University School of Engineering and was licensed to practice professional engineering in New York.
He belonged to Beta Kappa Nu and Alpha Phi Gamma fraternities and was a member of the IEEE Society.
Mr. Dieter was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Pleasantville, N.Y., and served on the vestry board.
He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II, spending six months in Japan.
Mr. Dieter was employed by Sonotone Corporation, Tetrad Diamonds, Micro Acoustics and Invocare. He held several patents for stereo phonograph cartridges. Mr. Dieter truly enjoyed working in a small company where he could be involved in all facets of his inventions, product and process development, manufacturing and sales.
He was predeceased by his parents, Norman H. Dieter Sr. and Ellen Curtis Dieter, Stonycrest, Pleasantville; and a sister, Marsha Raymond.
Mr. Dieter is survived by his wife of 60 years, Shirley Mahoney Dieter, Brielle; a sister, Nancy Berry and her husband, of Maryland; a daughter, Sharon and her husband Peter Coppola, Spring Lake; two sons and their wives, Craig and Elizabeth, Pleasantville, and Scott and Joanna, Mamaroneck, N.Y.; and six grandchildren, Meghan Rizzo, Krista and Michael Coppola, Aimee, Jared and Daniel Dieter.
Funeral arrangements were from Nearly-Quinn Funeral Home, Manasquan. Donations in memory of Mr. Dieter may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601-7633 or to the resident’s garden at Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation, Attn. Ariel Kirchner, 415 Jack Martin Blvd., Brick, 08724.
Gretchen Ann Therrien
Newtonville, Mass. resident Gretchen Ann Therrien, whose grandparents live in Manasquan, died Wednesday, Aug. 4 in Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington, Mass.
She was 26 years old.
Born in Englewood, Ms. Therrien was the daughter of Alan R. and Suzanne [Rahner] Therrien of Boxford, Mass.
Ms. Therrien was a graduate of Masconomet Regional High School, class of 1996, and Brown University, class of 2000, where she majored in math. She furthered her education by attending Boston College, where she received her master’s of science and teaching secondary math.
After attending Boston College, Ms. Therrien taught math at Newton North High School, Newton, Mass., for the past three years. She was very active in sports and music, and she especially loved to play softball and the flute. Ms. Therrien also enjoyed dancing and performing professionally for a troupe in Cambridge, Mass.
She is survived by her parents; her maternal grandparents, Cecilia and Erwin Rahner, of Manasquan; a sister, Michele and her husband Jeffrey Voner, of Topsfield, Mass.; her paternal grandparents, Doris and Russell Therrien, of Cabot, Vt.; a nephew, Daniel Voner, of Topsfield, Mass.; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
A memorial Mass will be held Thursday, Sept. 8, at 11:30 a.m. at The Upper Room Spiritual Center on W. Bangs Avenue and Route 33 in Neptune. All are invited. For more information on the service, call 732-922-0550.
Bette J. Fay
Spring Lake resident Bette J. Fay died Sunday, Aug. 14 in Waterford Glen Assisted Living, Wall Township.
Born in Spring Lake, she lived in Washington, D.C. before returning to the shore area 35 years ago.
Mrs. Fay was a well-known local artist and a longtime member of the Manasquan River Group of Artists.
She was predeceased by eight brothers and sisters.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Richard J. Fay; her daughters and sons-in-law, Clarissa and Craig Van Dongen, Jeannine and Tom Mood, Diane and Michael Sanders, Bridget and Matthew Griffith, and Jennifer and Peter Beauregard; her sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis and Ruth Fay, Timothy and Carol Fay, and Richard Fay; and her 10 grandchildren. She also leaves her sisters, Carolyn Knight and Irma Burdett.
The funeral will be held today at the O’Brien Funeral Home, Route 35 and New Bedford Road, Wall, at 9 a.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at St. Rose Church, Belmar at 10 a.m., followed by committal at St. Catharine’s cemetery, Wall.
Irene T. Cerra
Wall Township resident Irene T. Cerra died on Saturday, Aug.13 in her home surrounded by her family.
She was 70 years old.
Mrs. Cerra was a homemaker and a graduate of the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in New York, N.Y.
She was also a communicant of St. Catharine’s Roman Catholic Church in Spring Lake, a past president of the Sea Girt Woman’s Club, and a devoted wife, mother, sister, friend and mom-mom to all of her adored grandchildren.
Born and raised in Yonkers, N.Y., she lived in Freehold and Sea Girt for many years before moving to Wall six years ago.
Mrs. Cerra was predeceased by her husband of 41 years, Vincent J. Cerra Jr., in 1993, her daughter, Mary Jeanne Cerra, earlier this year, and by her two brothers, William and Thomas Toye.
Mrs. Cerra is survived by her son and his wife, Vincent J. III, and Kim Cerra, of Keyport; daughters Lucy A. and her husband Gerald Melillo, of Manalapan, Patricia Cerra, of Florida, and Irene and her husband Joseph Kerber, of Neptune City. She also leaves her sister Frances Sloane, of Monmouth Beach and 13 grandchildren.
The funeral arrangements were from the O’Brien Funeral Home, Wall.
