The world became a much brighter place when Henry “Harry” Joseph Kegelman V was born. He left it much too soon January 11, 2023.
Harry Joe was welcomed with love by his parents, Harry and Nancy Kegelman, and his older sister Nancy. Younger brother Paul's arrival a few years later would complete the family.
His first home was Little Silver and then Rumson; the place that was always home, even when it wasn't. Deane-Porter. Forrestdale. RFH. School was the means to friends and fun. He excelled at both. In particular, there was this cute red-haired girl on the “H” bus from Rumson Road, who would come to learn how friendly and fun Harry was. More on that later…
Playing soccer, running track, throwing the javelin, becoming an EMT and lifeguarding at Seven Presidents Park punctuated Harry’s high school years. He continued his studies at Muhlenberg College, once again building many great friendships and continuing his achievements in track and field, including winning the decathlon at the Centennial Conference Championships.
Harry’s decathlon victory had an unexpected benefit, opening the door to his first step in his professional career with a job in operations at Lukoil. The first of several successful roles in the oil freight industry.
During one of those working summers, fireworks on the Navesink set the real sparks flying. Harry and that cute red-haired girl from the Rumson Road bus would meet again. This was it. He was all in.
Harry was a fiercely loyal and fun-loving friend who packed 100 years of a good life into 40 years of an extraordinary life. The happiest of those days was June 7, 2014 when he married his best friend and love of his life, Casey Shanley. Newlywed life was lived to the fullest on New York’s Upper East Side, then took a happy turn south when Harry’s job brought them to Palm Beach, and blessed them with the arrival of Henry Joseph Kegelman VI, aka Hank.
The Kegelman Family would hit the road again and spend a few years in Houston before returning to Rumson. Home again. Surrounded by friends and family.
Home, however, will never be the same again. The young man who made so many laughs and smile. The nicest guy in the room. The one always willing to lend a hand. The one with the easy manner who immediately felt like an old friend. The one who made every day a bit brighter. The incredible, father, brother, friend, son and husband. Harry will always be with us.
Harry is survived by the love of his life, Casey, his best little buddy, Hank, his parents, Harry and Nancy Kegelman, his sister, Nancy (Joey) and brother Paul (Isabel), Grandmother Lynn Kegelman, mother and father-in-law Jeanne and Frank Shanley, his sister-in-law Molly (Luke), his brother-in-law Jack; uncles Paul (Margaret), John (Susan), Brian (Joan) and Sean (MaryBeth); and his aunts Mary (Joe), Eileen (Greg), and Cathy (Doug); nephews Johnny and Trey and niece Grace. And cousins. So many cousins.
Harry was predeceased by his grandparents Paul and Eileen Murray, Harry and Mary Kegelman and aunt Mary Beth McKeown.
The world will miss Harry terribly, but nobody more than those who love him the most, Casey and Hank.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10am on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at Holy Cross Church, 30 Ward Avenue, Rumson, NJ. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to: Harry J. Kegelman V Memorial Fund, c/o The Rumson Endowment Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 202, Rumson, NJ 07760. Donations will be used to beautify Rogers Park in Rumson, the source of great joy and pride for Harry and his family. Please make your check payable to "The Rumson Endowment Fund, Inc."and note on the check it is for the Harry J. Kegelman V Memorial Fund.
Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
