Obituaries - Thompson Memorial Home

Robert B. Zerr, Jr.

Robert B. Zerr, Jr., a lifelong resident of Rumson, passed away on March 29^th at home. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Sharon. He is survived by his daughter Terri Jo Zerr; his sister Linda Feeny and her husband Vinny; niece Susan and husband Frank Leslie; nephew John Feeny and wife Dianne; sister-in-law Susan Herman and her husband Ronzel; granddaughters Haleigh, Jackie, Lacee, Brandee and great-granddaughters Macie, Zelda, Emrys, Guinevere.

Bob was known best by his friends as “Bee Zee”. He served with the US Army from 1956-1962, serving 16 months in Korea. He was a life member of PBA Local 345, Exempt member of Rumson First Aid Squad, Monmouth County Police Chiefs Association and a member of the Rumson Police Department from 1960-1988, serving the last 3 year as Chief of Police. Those who knew him well, would agree that he was a humanitarian, a staunch defender of the right and a consummate American Patriot. He also played softball for many years at Piping Rock in Rumson. He will be missed

Chares B. Cady

Charles B. Cady, 87, of Long Branch, passed peacefully at home on March 26, 2019 in the loving company of family.

Charles was born in Torrington, Connecticut, attended the school system there, then entered the Gunnery where he graduated in the class of 1951. He later attended Johns Hopkins University and George Washington University majoring in engineering. He honorably served in the United States Air Force in the far east and Washington D.C.

Charles’ main occupation during his working years were with prestigious hydraulics and pneumatic companies throughout the United States. During his last ten years of employment, he became a sales engineer for LuK Inc., in Valley City, Ohio, servicing heavy duty truck manufacturers.

Charlie had a great love of finely crafted sports cars, especially Porsches. He joined the Jersey Shore Porsche Club in 1971 and was recently honored as one of their longest continuous members. Over the years he acted as a flag man and corner worker at racing events and enjoyed participating in local car shows and concours where he made many wonderful, lasting friendships.

Anne Francesconi Kirman

Anne Francesconi Kirman, age 83, of Manchester, NJ passed away on March 29, 2019. Anne was a former communicant of St. Anthony of Padua RC Church, Red Bank and now attended St. Catherine’s RC Church, North Middletown.

Anne retired as the Secretary and Register of Education at Bell Labs, Holmdel. She was a member of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, Jersey Shore Chapter for 19 years.

Kenneth J. McGowan

Kenneth McGowan, age 56, loving husband and father to three daughters passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 28th. He was a graduate of MSGR. Farrell H.S. and completed his undergraduate degree at the College of Staten Island, while working full time. Ken received his blackbelt in Vadha Kempo, he was an Eagle Scout and later a Scout Master at Troop 21 in Staten Island. Ken was an avid Rangers, Giant & Yankee fan. Ken had a great love for the outdoors (fishing, boating, crabbing). He designed and created several large fish ponds on his business and personal property. Everyone who knew Ken recognized that he had a Zest for life and was always the life of the party. He especially enjoyed spending time with his favorite cousin, Audra. (FFC). On October 10, 1991 he married Lori Dietrich. They raised three daughters, Amanda, Melanie, and Mikaela.

Mary R. Batista

Mary (Maria) Ruela Batista, age 97 of Toms River, NJ died peacefully on March 27, 2019.

Mary was born on January 10, 1922 in Murtosa, Portugal to Felicidade (Pereira) and Antonio Jose Ruela. The family migrated to America in 1937.

Mary and her family resided in Carteret, NJ then moved to Newark, NJ in 1942 She continued to live in Newark until she moved to Toms River, NJ in 2012.

She enjoyed traveling, cooking and sewing for her friends and family, babysitting for her grandchildren, and watching sports.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Louis Batista of 48 years, her brother Jose Ruela, and her twin sister Virginia Soares.

Joan H. Machette

Fair Haven - Joan (Hill) Machette, 92 passed away on Friday, March 8, 2019 as a resident of CareOne at King James, Atlantic Highlands, N.J. Born in Pelham Manor, New York, Joan was a long time resident of Monmouth County

Joan was a graduate of Penn Hall with an Associates Degree in Physical Education and she later attended a nursing program where she achieved certification as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Joan was employed by Monmouth Medical Center for some 28 years; her primary work was in the Intensive Care Unit.

Maintaining an active civil and social life Joan participated in performances of the Monmouth Players, was a member of the Monmouth County Junior League, a den mother for the Cub Scouts of America and one of the original members of the Peninsula House Beach Club.

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Teresa Ann "Terri" Fernandez

Teresa Ann “Terri” Fernandez, 91, passed away peacefully on March 18 surrounded by her family in Tinton Falls.

Terri was born in Kearny with an indomitable spirit and an all-encompassing love for those around her. A first-generation Italian American, her parents spoke little English, and it was a young Terri who translated parent-teacher conferences and made trips to the Salvation Army to help provide for her three younger sisters. (The latter was a kindness she never forgot; she spent much of her retirement volunteering at the SA and the Visiting Nurse Association of New Jersey.)

Timothy G. Beaty

Timothy G. Beaty, 64, of Colts Neck, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday March 15, at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center after a battle with heart disease.

He was born in Long Branch, NJ, raised in Oceanport, and graduated from Shore Regional High School in 1972. In high school, he was known as an avid runner earning First Team All-Shore and First Team All-State in Track in 1972.

Tim was the creator and owner of T. Beaty Trucking for over 40 years. He devoted himself to hardwork and great service, priding himself on his punctuality and friendly demeanor. Tim is remembered for his loving heart, witty sense of humor, honesty, and incredible passion.

Nancy Hagerman

Nancy Hagerman, 93, passed away peacefully at home on March 9, 2019, after a long illness. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, and married the love of her life, William R. Hagerman, in 1943. Over fifty-eight years of marriage, they lived in Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Rumson, Little Silver, and Middletown.

Nancy served on the Monmouth County SPCA Board of Trustees, was President of the SPCA Auxillary and the Shadow Lake Village Garden Club. She planted and maintained spectacular gardens, created museum quality miniature rooms and doll houses, and continued to work on petit-point and needlepoint canvases until a few months before her death. Throughout her adult life she was a voracious reader, an avid bridge player, theater lover, and a beachgoer. In the past, she enjoyed golfing at Beacon Hill and playing tennis at the Sea Bright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club.

Mildred Palmer Stout

Mildred Palmer Stout, 93 of Farmingdale, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 10^th at Atlantic Coast in Lakewood with end stage dementia.

Mildred was born in Newark New Jersey. She grew up in Arlington New Jersey. She graduated from Kearny High School then UNC Greensboro. As a young adult, her family relocated to Locust, New Jersey. She taught first grade in the Little Silver and Fair Haven school systems for thirty plus years. Mildred became an active member of the United Methodist Church of Red Bank. She sang in the choir at the United Methodist Church and also in the Shrewsbury Chorale. She sang duets throughout the county.

She married her husband Robert W. Stout and they were married for more than fifty years.

Alice Patricia Hsiu-Yun Liu Szema

Alice Patricia Hsiu-Yun Liu Szema, 85, died March 2, 2019 surrounded by family at Millennium Memory Care in Holmdel, NJ after complications from strokes.

Born Liu Hsiu-Yun, May 10, 1933 in Shanghai, China, Alice was the daughter of the late Liu Tzu-Liang and Liu Lei Pei-Chen. Her childhood, enriched with trips to Chinese opera, parks, and bookstores with her father, watching her mother play mahjong, and having doting grandparents, was interrupted due to the atrocities of the Sino-Japanese and Chinese Civil Wars. Alice left China with her parents, younger brother and elder cousin after her father, a cargo ship owner, prepared their new home in Taiwan. Originally scheduled to sail on the Taiping ship January 26, 1949 from Shanghai, the Liu family swapped tickets with another family who needed to delay their travel. Her family departed December 6, 1948 on the Zhong Shin Ren ship. Unfortunately, the Taiping collided with another ship, Chien Yuan and over 1500 passengers perished.