Obituaries - Thompson Memorial Home

Margaret “Peggy” Werber

Margaret “Peggy” Werber, a lineal descendant of Thomas Hinckley, Governor of Plymouth Colony and first Governor of Massachusetts, passed away suddenly Friday, June 3, 2016. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she epitomized grace, intelligence and kind heartedness. An accomplished horsewoman, she graced the cover of the June 15, 1947 issue of Parade Magazine having won, at age 16, the International Open Jumping Championship between the United States, Canada and Mexico against riders of all ages, both amateur and professional. It was at one of her events that she met her future husband, Charles “Jerry” Werber, to whom she was married for 61 years.

A tireless volunteer, she became president of the Junior League of Long Island. After moving to Rumson, New Jersey, she joined the Junior League of Monmouth County where she became Volunteer of the Year in 1970 and, subsequently, President from 1972-1974. After retiring from the Junior League, she joined Family and Children Services of Monmouth County and served a term as that agency’s President.

Marie K. Heggie

Marie K. Heggie (nee Robinson) aged 72 of Tinton Falls died Wednesday, June 1, 2016 peacefully at home surrounded by her family. She was the daughter of Doris Pomphrey Robinson.

Marie graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School in 1961. Marie worked at Progressive Life Insurance Company in Red Bank, NJ and EBSCO Industries, Inc. in Red Bank, NJ. She spent many years of her life volunteering as a Girl Scout leader, Boy Scout leader, PTA president, as well as an American Cancer Society volunteer and community organizer. She was a church deacon.

Marie was the widow of John P. Heggie, Sr. Marie is survived by her mother; six children Dorothy-Jean Shedwick (John); Leanne DeHope (Edward); Alycen Carroll; Robin Mahns (Michael); John P. Heggie, Jr. (Joyce); Jennifer Blackwell (Jullius); 11 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.

Lillian Wilson

Lillian Wilson, Age 98, passed away on May 27, 2016. She was born in Brooklyn on May 17, 1918 to August and Elizabeth Pflug. Lillian grew up in Red Bank, graduated from Drake Business College, and worked at Picatinny Arsenal.

Lillian married George F. Wilson, Jr. in Red Bank Methodist Church on June 6, 1942. Together they had two daughters, Carol and Margaret (Peggy) and raised them in Rumson, NJ.

Lillian was a member of the DAR, a Girl Scout Leader, a Member of the Eastern Star, typed manuscripts for Pulitzer Prize winning author John Toland, was personal secretary to Horace Horner of Rumson and was the Secretary to the Superintendent of RFHRHS.

Antoinette "Ann" DeFazio

Antoinette "Ann" DeFazio, Age 93 of Red Bank, passed away at her home on May 23, 2016. Antoinette was a life-long resident of Red Bank.

Karen Bender Pattakos

Karen Bender Pattakos of Red Bank passed away on May 23, 2016. Karen was a native of Staten Island, NY, where she attended O.L.G.C. and Notre Dame Academy. She studied Architecture and Hotel Restaurant Management at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and Alexandria, VA. She also studied at Oxford University on a Fellowship.

Karen spent 10 years in Alexandria as a Commercial Kitchen Designer where her designs included the DC Post Office and the National Rifle Association's new building in Fairfax, VA. She then worked for five years as Executive Chef and Restaurant Manager for the NRA. She moved to Red Bank and opened a catering business and worked as a personal chef. Most recently she was the Executive Chef at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank. While working for Meridian she also completed a Master's Degree.

Peter A. Foster

Peter A. Foster, Age 83, of Red Bank, NJ, loving husband, father and grandfather passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 24, 2016.

Peter is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Marie (nee DePonte), his three daughters, Karen Foster, Kim McKenna and her husband Richard, Susan Foster and Mark Skove, and two grandchildren, Katelyn and Kyle McKenna. Peter was predeceased by his sister, Jean Weatherly. He will also be missed by his sisters and brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews and extended family members. Peter was also cared for most recently by some very special health care workers who Pete and his family are very grateful to for their compassion and care.

Herbert "Buddy" E. Bush

Herbert "Buddy" E. Bush died on May 17, 2016, peacefully at his home in Rumson, where he lived for 72 years with his wife of 69 years. Gloria passed in 2013. He mourned for her everyday.

Buddy was predeceased in 1967 by his son Herbert R. Bush, "Skipper", who was member of the US Air Force. He is survived by his beloved daughters Bonnie Ciambrone (Joseph, deceased) and Jennifer Tobias and her husband Richard.

Buddy was a veteran of the US Coast Guard serving during World War II. He then worked as a machinist and manager with Bendix Corporation until his retirement.

He was a life member of the Rumson Volunteer Fire Company since 1946 and Chief in 1964. Buddy was the oldest living member at the department having served for 69 years.

Bruno Sama

Bruno Sama, 94, passed away on Monday, May 16, 2016, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in 1921, in Sant'Andrea, Calabria, Italy to the late Nicola and Teresa Carioti Sama, and immigrated to the United States as a teen. Bruno proudly served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded the American Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was a resident of Rumson, New Jersey for over 55 years.

Bruno Sama was the owner-operator of "Bruno's Barber Shop" for over 50 years with locations in Rumson on East River and Black Point Roads and in Long Branch on Atlantic and Ocean Avenues.

Bruno is survived and will be dearly missed by his beloved wife of over sixty years, Vittoria; his children, Maria (Lawrence) Michaels of Novi, MI, Dina Sama Venero, and Lisa (Mark) Holmes of Pennington, NJ; his grandchildren, Marc Michaels, Michelle Michaels, Alexandra Venero, Gabriel Venero, Christopher Holmes and Matthew Holmes; his sister-in-law, Antoinetta, and many nieces and nephews.

William H. (Bill) Pennington, Jr.

William H. (Bill) Pennington, Jr., 82 of Little Silver, passed away on May 16, 2016, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Perth Amboy and grew up in Red Bank before moving to Little Silver in 1964. He graduated from Red Bank Catholic, attended St. Peters College in Jersey City and received a degree in Publishing and Printing from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. He served for two years in the US Army stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. Bill worked for many years for the then Red Bank Register before owning and operating Pennington Printing Services in Eatontown.

Bill was known for his sense of humor, devotion to family and great faith. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a communicant of the Church of the Nativity in Fair Haven. Bill enjoyed sailing on the Navesink River as often as he could and was a loyal fan of the NY Giants.

Mary Patricia Dougherty

Mary Patricia Dougherty, 93, of Middletown, passed away at home on May 15, 2016. She was born and raised in Newark. She graduated from St Vincent's Academy in Newark and Georgian Court College in Lakewood. She her received her Masters in Education from Seton Hall. She taught elementary school in the Jersey City School system for over 40 years and retired in 1990. She moved with her sister Irene to Middletown in 1985, and has resided there since.

Patricia was a communicant of the Church of Saint Catharine in Holmdel. She was a Eucharistic minister and a member of the social concerns ministry. She volunteered with Birthright in Red Bank for many years.

She is survived by sisters Irene, Joan Montgomery, Josephine Ziegler, and Mary Bennett (Clay), a brother Henry (Sandy), and a sister-in-law Carol Dougherty. She was a devoted aunt to 32 nieces and nephews, over 40 grand nieces and nephews, and 4 great grand nieces and nephews.

Michael Patrick Allingham

Michael Patrick Allingham, age 18, passed away in his home in Holmdel on the night of May 15, 2016. From the time he could walk and talk, Mikey was a special young man with the biggest of hearts. He had an unwavering devotion to animals throughout his entire life, being a dedicated worker for Little Bit Farms in Howell and Camp Bow-Wow in Eatontown, volunteering through the Monmouth County SPCA and Action for Animals at CBA, committing to being a vegan, and being a pet owner himself with his dog, Buster, and his four bunnies. Aside from caring for animals, the remainder of Mikey's time was usually spent working on the yearbook where he was Editor-in-chief for the past 3 years at CBA, volunteering at the Red Bank Charter School, participating on the Varsity Mock Trial, or listening to his favorite artist and role model, Katy Perry.

Mikey had a smile that lit up any room and such passion that anyone he met knew he would continue to change the world for the better.