Obituaries

69 – Shrewsbury

Harry "Sprat" Clark, 69 of Shrewsbury died at home on June 29.

He was predeceased by his parents Tom and Betty Clark, his brother Tommy, and his niece Stefanie. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Charlotte. Also by his two brothers Frank Clark and his wife Doreen, John Clark, and his wife Mary and his favorite sister Ella Clark. He is also survived by nieces and nephews; Kenny, Tara, Scott, Bob, Russell, Jessica, Thomas, and Beth. Also, by a host of relatives from his wife's family in Ireland.

He graduated from Red Bank High School in 1966, where he was an outstanding football and baseball player. Sprat was a sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he received the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism in the Republic of Vietnam in March 1971. He was a life member and ex-president of the Shrewsbury Hose Company and life member of The N.J. State Fireman's Relief Association. He was a hall of fame player on the Fire company softball team and a member of their bowling team. Sprat loved all sports especially watching NASCAR and playing golf with the Clark Foursome.

Age 96

Frances S. Brandt, 96, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 26, 2016, at Meridian Nursing Home, Shrewsbury, NJ. She was born in Schnectady, NY. After graduating from Cobleskill University, New York in 1942, she and the man of her dreams, Elwood Douglas Brandt, married and moved to New Jersey. They resided in Lincroft, NJ on Marlu Farm, which is now part of Monmouth County Thompson Park, for 40 years. Fran worked as a waitress for 30 years and loved every minute working at the Molly Pitcher, Peterson's, Lincroft Inn, and Pleasant Valley Inn. She was a founding member of the Lincroft Community Church and later joined the Red Bank Methodist Church, joining the women's circle. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary for both the Lincroft First Aid and Fire Company.Fran was avid bowler, belonging to the Harmony Bowling League for over 30 years. She enjoyed dancing, traveling, card games, writing letters and especially Rummikubs. Fran loved being around people as she had the "gift of gab." In 1991 they moved from Marlu Farm to Luftman Towers in Lincroft. She was very active and organized the monthly luncheons for many years. Fran also served as President of the Tenant's Association for a number of terms.

She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years and her brother George Studor. She is survived by her sister Jeanne Garner; her four daughters, Dianne and husband John Patterson; Linda and husband Tom Barry; Peggy and husband Joe Wallenstein; and Cindy Brandt. She will be missed by her fourteen grandchildren and thirty-two great-grandchildren.

Age 79 of Point Pleasant

Joseph Nugent, age 79, of Point Pleasant, passed away on Wednesday, June 22nd. Joseph was a general partner of the brokerage firm of Mabon, Nugent & Co. in New York, retiring in 1991.

Joe was a graduate of Riverdale Country Day School in 1955. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Villanova University in 1959 and an Honorary Doctorate in 1991. He was a communicant of Sacred Heart RC Church, Bay Head.

Joe served his country with the US Marine Reserves. He was a Board Member of the Marymount Manhattan College; a member of the Board of Trustees of Riverview Medical Center Foundation; a member of the Manasquan River Golf Club and the Bay Head Yacht Club. Joe was well known for the stories that he loved to tell. He was also a proud and active member of The Howe Street 3 PM Beach Group. He was an avid fisherman, boater and golfer. He also enjoyed woodworking and travel. Joe was also a huge New York Giants and Villanova Basketball fan.

Age 96 of Middletown

Mable R. Eremus, 96, of Middletown passed away at her home on Tuesday, June 21st. Mabel was a member of the Navesink Methodist Church. She was a volunteer at the Atlantic Methodist Church Food Pantry and belongs to a craft group at the Keansburg Methodist Church.

Age 82 - Tinton Falls, NJ and previously of Staten Island until 2005

Ciro Licastri, of Tinton Falls, NJ, died peacefully on June 22, 2016.
He came to the United States in 1971. In 1973, he married Lucia Cannizzaro, and together they had 2 children, Salvatore and Rosemarie. Ciro was a member of Excavators Union Local 731 and Mason Tenders Union Local 79. He served as a member of the Italian Army. A unique soul, Ciro was very funny, and enjoyed gardening, painting, dancing and listening to Pavarotti and Bocelli.

He was a loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and an amazing friend.

Ciro is survived by his wife of 43 years, Lucia Licastri of Tinton Falls, NJ; his son Salvatore Licastri and his wife Nicole of Toms River, NJ; his daughter Rosemarie Lakeman and her husband Robert also of Tinton Falls, NJ; his five grandchildren John, Alexa, Ava, Adriana and Matthew. Also survived by his loving in-laws and beloved nieces and nephews.

Monmouth Beach

Carol G. Novak passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 19, 2016.

Carol was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ. She graduated from Snyder High School and worked for Standard Oil for several years. In 1953, she married Dick Garley and became a full-time homemaker to raise her six children.

Carol and Dick moved to Rumson in 1958. She was very involved with Holy Cross School and served as Holy Cross PTA President and volunteer for many years.

She married Paul J. Novak in 1975 and moved to Red Bank in 1979. She was a secretary in the Red Bank Catholic Library for 32 years, and also a volunteer for the Red Bank Catholic PTA.

Carol was very proud of and devoted to her family, and was happiest when attending gatherings and parties with her family and many friends. Her spirit, caring nature and great sense of humor will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know and love her. God now holds her in the palm of His hand with her beloved Paul, Greg and Jane.

Eleanor Benoist Linley, musician and teacher, died peacefully at home after a long illness, on June 15, 2016, surrounded by her family.

 
Through her lifelong ministry as a church organist and choir director, concert pianist and teacher of music and German, Eleanor enriched countless lives. She commenced her service as a liturgical musician at age 12 and went on to become organist and choir director at the Episcopal Churches of St. James, Long Branch; Christ Church, Shrewsbury; The Church of the Resurrection, Elizabeth; St. Edward the Martyr, NYC; All Saints’ Memorial, Navesink, and St. Mark’s, Keansburg.

Robert E. Sullivan, Age 73 of Oceanport, passed away on June 15, 2016. Bob was born in 1943 in South Amboy, and is predeceased by his parents Edward and Sally (Cichalski) Sullivan. He moved to Oceanport in 1973.  Bob is survived by his wife of 46 years Maureen (Reilly) and his children Robert and Rachel, his sister Margaret MacMillan, as well as many nieces and nephews, friends and colleagues. He graduated from St. Mary's High School in South Amboy and received a BA in Education from Kean University in 1964, a MA in Guidance and Personnel from Seton Hall University in 1967, and a BS in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State University in 1988.  He began his career in education by teaching 6th grade in Hazlet from 1964 to 1967, followed by 2 years as a guidance counselor at Rahway Junior High School. He started as a guidance counselor at East Brunswick High School in 1969 and retired 34 years later in 2003.

Vincent J. Venezia passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, June 12, comforted and surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, he was the youngest son of the late James and Angelina Venezia. A talented athlete, he played minor league baseball with the Newark Bears before enlisting in the Army. He proudly served his country for 26 years and was a decorated combat veteran receiving two Bronze Star Medals for his service in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. While stationed in Tokyo, Japan, he met the love of his life, Sachiko. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage before her passing in 2007. Following his military career, he settled in Red Bank and owned and operated the Trade Winds Motel and Marina in Sea Bright. In 2010 he retired from the moving and transportation industry after 30 years.

Affectionately known as Grandpa Gee to many and Baba Gee to his great-grandchildren, he was truly an amazing man who loved his family more than anything and lived to see them happy. Spending time with his granddaughters was his favorite thing, whether it was breakfast at the diner, watching the Mets, or driving around doing errands, as long as he was with “the girls” he was happy. Hard working and strong with a heart of gold, he touched the lives of everyone who knew him.

Kenneth Robert Swain, Jr., of Rumson, died peacefully on June 12, 2016.  

He attended Glen Ridge Public Schools and following graduation he served our Country in the US Army.  He graduated with a Business Degree from Radford University.  For the last 30 years, he had a successful career on Wall Street, making life-long friendships along the way, most recently as a Managing Director at BTIG.

Kenny was a larger than life man with the biggest of hearts, who was often the first to volunteer his time and support to the community.  He was on the Board of AYF and Touchdown Club and coached football and basketball.

He was a loving and dedicated husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and an amazing friend.  He had a special way of making you feel like the most important person in the room, leaving a lasting legacy in his seven beautiful children.