Obituaries

Deborah S Connolly, 81, of Fair Haven New Jersey died peacefully at home on October 27, 2021 surrounded by her family.   We will remember Debby most for her sunny disposition, kind and gracious manner, and the positive influence she had on the lives of many people, young and old.  She will be missed by many. 

Nonnie, as she was known to her grandsons, was born to James A. Traver and Erma Homeyer Traver in Buffalo, New York. She and her brother Ron were raised in Tonawanda, New York.  She attended Tonawanda High School and earned a BS at Albany State Teachers College SUNY ALBANY, class of 1961, where she was a member of the Beta Zeta sorority.

Debby met Jack Connolly in Crystal Beach, Canada and they married in February of 1963.  They started their family in Kenmore, New York where they lived for 5 years.  In 1970 they moved to Fair Haven to raise their children Betsy and Susan. Debby served on many groups including Newcomers, Fair Haven PTA, volunteer teacher at Nativity Church, sang in the folk choir and was a substitute teacher.

Peg Scott lived a full life, with a strong determination to remain young and active until the end. On 10/27/2021, she finally yielded to the inevitability of growing old, and passed on at the age of 94.

Her desire to die peacefully in her own home surrounded by her family was granted. She is survived by her brother, Robert Bailey (Beth Schenck Bailey), and her daughters, Meredith Brown, Cindy Herndon (Fred Herndon), and Susan Reghi Kelsey (Ralph Kelsey); grandchildren, Jennifer Brown Chim (Khanh Chim), Meg Herndon (Marshall Gagne), Pam Herndon, and Nathaniel Herndon (Lauren Stephens Herndon), Danielle Reghi (Abe Hawkins) and Malia Reghi. She had seven great grandchildren (Isabella, Addison and Emma Chim, Thomas, Simon and Clare Gagne; and Liliana 'Awa Reghi).

Jeffrey Hall Dobken, MD, MPH, age 77, passed peacefully Tuesday, October 26th, 2021, surrounded by his beloved family, after a 6-year battle with Multiple Myeloma. Jeffrey would be described by many as a renaissance man of the highest caliber— Doctor, Certified Bioethicist, Professor, Writer, Public Health Expert, Lifelong Athlete and Ultramarathon Runner. Loving father, husband, brother and healer… A true intellect and community leader, Dr. Dobken’s Asthma, Allergy & Immunology Practice “The Respiratory Group” is where he poured his heart and soul, caring for the beloved residents of Monmouth County (and beyond, some traveling 2 hours each way, weekly) for 35+ years. He was a deeply caring, kind, and witty physician who is accredited with saving a number of lives. His thorough attention to detail and desire to heal left his patients feeling fulfilled and deeply attached. Nothing stopped him from doing the right thing. He extended the same compassion and wisdom to his family. 

On Sunday, October 24, 2021, Suzon (Suzi) Ziegler Mathis passed into eternal rest. Suzi was born to the late Samuel J and Kathleen S Ziegler at Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia, PA in 1940. She was raised in Ocean Grove, Ocean Township and Interlaken, NJ.

Suzi graduated from Long Branch High School in 1958 and Glassboro State College (Rowan University) in 1962. In 1974 she married Lester H. Mathis and they made their home in Little Silver since that time.

She taught first, second and third grades at the Garfield School in Long Branch, NJ, retiring in 1994 after 32 years of dedicated service to her students. An avid devotee of cross stitch and needlepoint the walls of her home were filled with her work. She also was an amazing jewelry creator. But her main joy in retirement was the collecting of Dolls and stuffed animals which graced the entire home. Her emphasis was on Lee Middleton and Laura Tuzio Ross creations. Many pleasant hours were filled with attending to the care of her dolls.

Judith D. Wolf (Nee Barrett) “Judy” of Rumson, NJ passed away peacefully at home on October 23, 2021. Born in Perth Amboy, she was raised in Keyport with her seven siblings and two loving parents. Judy graduated from Keyport High School in 1964.

Judy married the love of her life; William in 1975, they spent 38 amazing years together. Together they raised their two sons in Shrewsbury before moving to Rumson in 1995. Judy was a constant help and companion to her husband in the early days of their company, Motion Systems Corporation.

Judy was a homemaker, amazing gourmet cook and enjoyed traveling with her family and friends. She was especially fond of the New York Times Crossword puzzles. In fact, she was a near professional placing first in The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in 2017. She was also an avid reader of personal family history, and enjoyed leisure reading. Judy loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. “Grammy” will be dearly missed. She is now laughing and dancing with her husband in heaven.

Dr. Frederick Charles Blades, a much beloved ophthalmologist in Red Bank, NJ, for over 40 years, passed away Friday, March 26, 2021. He was 78 years old. To honor this man, a Memorial Gathering will be held at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ, on Saturday, October 30th from 9am-12pm.  All visitors must wear facial masks.  

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Royalda Theresa (Boadway) Parany on Sunday, November 8, 2020 at Riverview Hospital, Red Bank, New Jersey at the age of 95. During her final day, Royalda was surrounded by her loved ones, including her children and their families, including talking to family members via Facetime.

Royalda was born in Malone, New York on August 4, 1925 and she graduated from Franklin Academy in 1944. While visiting her sister in Passaic, New Jersey, she met the love of her life Michael K. Parany through a blind date. They were married on December 27, 1947 during the Great Blizzard of ‘47. Mike and “Roy” as they were affectionately called,by their many longtime friends, were very active in the Boy’s club of PassaicClifton, hosting many trips and Christmas Parties for the boys, they were also very active in the Local VFW often volunteering for fundraisers throughout the year, and were active in the local Democratic Party Organization helping with campaigns and on election night Mike assisted people to get polling places and Roy helped at the polls. She was also very active in the Rosary Society at St Claire’s Church in Clifton, New Jersey.

Patricia Grignard, 82, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 11, 2021, after a 3-year battle with Leukemia.

Pat was born in Worcester, Mass, to the late James Patrick Loughlin and Annette Amy Dubuc. She was the oldest of six children. She went to St. Peter’s High School and attended Clark University. She shared her father’s passion for the democratic party as he was a long-time labor leader.

She married Emile Grignard and moved to Colts Neck, NJ in 1969 but never lost her Massachusetts accent. She was a great mother, wife, sister, and friend to many. She cherished family time above all. She loved preparing holiday dinners. She was a great listener and was therefore the first person many would call. She had a very keen sense of intuition and provided great advice. She always kept up on current events in the daily paper and on CNN, MSNBC and loved a good political debate.

Dorothy A. Dalton (Dottie), 75, passed away unexpectedly on 10/10/21. She grew up in Red Bank, NJ and was a graduate of Red Bank Regional HS in 1964 and Monmouth County Vocational School for practical nursing in 1965.

In her 50-year career as a dedicated nurse she first worked at Riverview Hospital, Red Bank, and then in the CCU at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. Before retiring from MMC in 2015, she worked as a Heart Monitor Tech there.

Carmel DeFabio (nee D’Alessandro), 97, previously of Short Hills, NJ, and Sanibel, Florida, passed away peacefully at her home in Silver Beach, NJ, on October 6^th.

Born in Newark, NJ, she was the eldest daughter of Orazio and Aida D’Alessandro. She attended Westside High School and graduated from Douglas College in 1945.

She married her husband of 69 years in 1948 and together; they raised their four sons in Short Hills.

Affectionately known as Nana by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she loved sharing pictures from her college yearbook, telling stories about her summers in Massachusetts, and watching old movies. She was a talented baker, wonderful bridge player, avid theater fan, loved reading, and she always saved room for dessert! She was a parishioner of St. Pio in Lavallette.