Obituaries

Downie E. Stuart, 92 passed away peacefully on Wed. Mar 23, 2016 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. She was predeceased by her parents Zora (Kuzmanovich) Elich and Samuel Elich, her husband of 52 years, Joseph P. Stuart, brothers John Elich, Sam Elich, and Stanley Elich, sister Mildred Todorczuk and nephew Stanley Elich.

Surviving are her children, Jeffry Stuart (Lorraine) of Key Largo Fl., Ann Babeuf (Toby) of Rumson, NJ, and Gregory Stuart (Coleen) of Naples, ME, grandchildren Emily and Chris Babeuf, step-grandchildren Robert and Matthew Foley and many nieces and nephews. Downie was raised in Eldersville Pa., graduated Burgettstown High School, Duffs Business School, Pittsburgh and attended Columbia University Teachers College when Dwight D. Eisenhower was university president. When the United States entered World War II, she joined the war effort beginning in 1944 as a Navy Yeoman, continued in the Naval Reserve after the war and was honorably discharged in 1953.

Myron "Bill" Berry of Rumson passed away peacefully on March 10th, surrounded by his family and devoted friend, Nancy Kochanski after a long battle with cancer. Bill was predeceased by his wife of 41 years, Suzanne "Sue" Lucking Berry, who he met while attending Ramsey High School. After graduation, Bill went on to obtain a degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. Upon finishing college, Bill and his wife moved to Amberg, Germany during Bill's two years of service in the United States Army. In 1978, Bill and Sue moved to Rumson, NJ where they raised their two sons, Darren and Max. Bill was proud to have imparted his love of fishing to his sons with whom he spent many cherished memories on the Navesink River. Bill retired from AT&T Lucent Tech and Avaya Communications in 2006. He had the privilege of working at Bell Laboratories in Holmdel during the companies' most innovative years.

While living in Rumson, Bill made many close friends. He enjoyed spending time with his long time golf partner, Richard Warga and his family; his most trusted friends, David Wilson, Doug and Marylou Greely and family; his work partner of 30 years, Marvin Weitzler; and his favorite comic relief, Janice Brennan. He also enjoyed sharing good spirits with all at Val's tavern and fishing with his children.

Mary Flanagan Rigaut, 90, of Fair Haven, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 23rd after a brief illness. She was born in Meath Hill, Ireland and graduated from St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn, NY.

Mary was a retired elementary school teacher and an active volunteer. She was a Dame of the Order of Malta and made five pilgrimages to Lourdes. Mary was also an active member of the Church of the Nativity and Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club, as well as past President of the St. Joseph College Alumni Association and past PTA President of Holy Cross School. She was a Eucharistic Minister and volunteered her time visiting the sick and homebound. Mary enjoyed traveling extensively, tennis, golf, theater and the beach. She had a generous spirit and was devoted to her faith, family and friends.

Stella Dancey, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, Yaya, and friend departed this life on March 24, 2016. She displayed the same strength, grace, and courage in her death as she did in her long and beautiful life.

Stella was born in 1922 in New Brunswick, NJ to Vassillios Gitantzides and Kalliope Tsoukaladakis, who both emigrated from Greece. Her father, who was known as "Bill the Barber" at Curchin's Barber Shop in Red Bank, was a proud patriot of his adopted country. Her mother was a seamstress and the daughter of olive farmers on the island of Samos.

Stella graduated from New Brunswick High School in 1940 and was trained soon after as a secretary. She started work at Camp Evans in Belmar during WWII, where she met her husband Frank after his service in Africa and Italy in the Army Air Forces. Soon after her marriage in 1948 Stella was employed at Ft. Monmouth where she supported our military members during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. During her career she had three children, John, Michael, and Kathy and raised them in Shrewsbury where she and Frank made their home. She retired from Ft. Monmouth in 1981, where she was able to work for many years with her sister, Catherine "Casey" Ross. After retiring, Stella enjoyed spending time with Frank, her family, and friends and attending reunions with Frank's WWII Bomber Group.

Marguerite (Peggy) Salmon, 89, of Vero Beach, FL and Fair Haven, NJ died peacefully on Sunday, March 20, 2016 at Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach. Born and raised in Ludington, Michigan, a small town on the shore of Lake Michigan, Peggy attended Ludington High School and graduated from Wayne State University and the Grace Hospital School of Nursing.

Her first marriage to Richard (Pete) Schmittling in 1948 ended tragically when he died 3 years later leaving 2 sons, Bill, age 3, and Ray, 6 months.

It was during her time working as an operating room nurse at Wayne County General Hospital in Westland, Michigan she met Louis R. Salmon, a resident in Ophthalmology at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan. They were married in 1956 and settled in Rumson, New Jersey; close to the shores where Louis spent his summer months as a child.

Kathleen T. Costigan, 96, of Shrewsbury went home to God on March 21, 2016 between her high holiday of St. Patrick's Day, the first day of spring, her birthday, and Easter. She was born the third of seven children to Irish immigrant parents Francis H. and Mary Sheridan Ward.

Kay was a most compassionate and competent nurse who worked at Massachusetts General and Boston Children Hospitals. She served, along with all of her siblings, in World War II as a charter member of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corp.

She married another navy veteran in 1947 and enjoyed 53 wonderful years of marriage to Joseph G. Costigan. They moved to NJ in 1955 and enjoyed their lives running a business, traveling the world, playing golf, and making dear and lasting friends. She certainly had the luck of the Irish and used it well at Monmouth Race Track and Atlantic City.

Dr. John D. Powers (Jack), 92, passed away on March 19, 2016, after a full and wonderful life.

He was born in Red Bank, NJ, attended Red Bank public schools and later graduated from Colgate University where he studied pre-med. This was interrupted by three years of duty in the US Navy. After graduating from Midshipman School at Northwestern University in Chicago and sub-chaser school in Miami, he was deployed to the Pacific theater during the latter part of World War II just after the Iwo Jima invasion aboard the USS LSM 141. After discharge from the Navy and completing college he went to Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia followed by an internship in Lansing, Michigan. He returned to Fair Haven with his wife, Eleanor (Clayton) 'Arny' Powers whom he had married during junior year of medical school.

Margaret Lamb Maguire passed away on Thursday, March 17, 2016 in the comfort of her home with the complete love of her family. Margaret was born in the Bronx. Her family moved to North Plainfield, NJ when she was five years old. She was a Fair Haven resident for over 50 years.

She was an extremely bright woman, skipping two grades and graduating North Plainfield High School at 16 years old. She graduated Seton Hall University with her Bachelors in Nursing. Margaret began her nursing career at the VNA in Plainfield as a Public Health Nurse. While she was both a part time and full time school nurse at Monmouth Regional High School, she pursued her Masters in Social Work. She began her Social Work career at MRHS in 1977. In 1989 she retired to spend more time with her family.

Margaret E. Baxter, 97, of Middletown, passed away on March 12, 2016. Margaret was born to William and Edith Cooper in Orange, NJ. She was a Secretary for the First Baptist Church in Red Bank. She retired in 1995 after many years of service. Margaret was a member of the Church for over 60 years and was the longest living member of the Church.

Margaret was predeceased by her husband Robert in 1995 and her son Frank in 2014. She is survived by daughter Marilyn Siemons of Wall, NJ, and her sister-in-law.