Obituaries - Thompson Memorial Home

Terrence P. Fullam

Terrence “T” Fullam left us on August 25, 2021. T was born in Newark, New Jersey, and spent his early youth in Freehold where he enjoyed playing Little League and soccer much more than academics. T attended Freehold Regional High School and then roamed the continent for several years living and working in Ohio, Arizona, California and Mexico where he honed his construction skills and began to develop his exceptional culinary craft.

T returned home to his family in New Jersey in the 1990s. T was a terrific chef and owned and operated a Mexican restaurant in Freehold, Señor T’s. He went on to graduate from the French Culinary Institute in New York City in 1998. Subsequently, T worked in numerous restaurants in New Jersey with his last position at the senior living community of Applewood in Freehold where he was a beloved co-worker.

Robert "Bob" Carr

Robert “Bob” Carr, 64, of Fair Haven, NJ, passed away Saturday, August 14, 2021. He is predeceased by his parents John Carr and Jean McGuire and his siblings Jack Carr, James Carr and Patricia Kerns. He is also predeceased by his father-in-law Arthur Coughlin and his sister-in-law Jeanette Davis.

Bob was a very caring husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 40 years Coreen Carr; his sons Robert J. and his wife Alyssa and their children Christopher and Olivia, Matthew A. Carr and Brendan J. Carr.

Bob is also survived by his step-father George McGuire; his siblings Thomas Carr and his wife Alicia, William Carr, Kathy Enna and her husband Tom, Mary Romano and her husband Deacon Joseph Romano and Michael McGuire and his wife Alicia; his mother-in-law Helen Coughlin; brothers-in-law Arthur Coughlin and his wife Doreen, Brian Coughlin and his wife Catherine and many nieces and nephews.

John F. Clabby

John “Jack” Francis Clabby was a family man. Growing up with his multi-generational family in Brooklyn and Queens, he shared a bedroom with his beloved French Grandpa who taught him many life lessons, including how to make wine in the basement during Prohibition. His parents filled his childhood with gatherings of extended family and summers at Rockaway Beach. These experiences shaped him, and for the rest of his life his abiding Catholic faith found expression in this love and devotion to family and friends. He immersed himself in each parish community he joined, serving as a lector and volunteering for bingo, carnivals, and wherever he could be of service. Raising nine children with his beloved wife, Ginny, they cultivated a home filled with love, faith, humor and unflagging optimism.

Lucy Cunniff

Lucy Cunniff left us on August 11, 2021. She was born in Jersey City, NJ, the ninth child of Dr. Charles and Margaret Mary (Norton) Cunniff, who predeceased her. She was a really cute kid, and a natural gymnast as a child. She attended the Academy of St. Aloysius for 12 years and graduated magna cum laude from Kean College with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy in 1989. In her therapeutic work she was dedicated to the ideal of helping her patients thrive by using her prodigious technical skills and ingenuity to create inventive, hand-made tools.

She began her career at Overlook Hospital in Summit and, as a senior therapist, received their Applaud award for outstanding service to the hospital. Most recently, she cared for patients at CareOne King James, Atlantic Highlands. She was an intrepid and adventurous spirit, which led her to the West Coast as a traveling therapist in Aberdeen, WA and Clearlake, CA. She was a kidney transplant recipient and had multiple joint replacement surgeries; as a professional, she developed total joint replacement clinical path protocols.

Theresa Katherine Calistri

On Thursday, August 12, 2021, Theresa Katherine Calistri (nee Kelsey), loving wife and mother of four children, passed away at age 85.

Theresa was born on September 17, 1935 in Paterson, NJ, to the late Ervin and Stella Kelsey. Theresa was raised in Paterson, NJ, and graduated from St. Joseph's High School in Paterson in 1953. She then graduated from Douglas Business School and spent 8 years as an Executive Secretary at Curtis-Wright. On February 7, 1959 she married Peter Calistri and together they raised four children, Peter, Elizabeth, Marie and Matthew.

Theresa was a parishioner and eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Tenafly, NJ, for 38 years and in 2015 was awarded the Legacy Award along with her devoted husband, Peter. She and Peter were avid travelers and their favorite destinations included Italy, France and Germany. They were also well-renowned for their delicious cooking and love for entertaining. Theresa and Peter’s welcoming home was the destination for countless gatherings with family and friends to enjoy culinary delights and plenty of laughs. Most recently, Theresa resided with Peter at Seabrook Senior Living Community in Tinton Falls, NJ, where she was on the Catholic Council.

Louis A. Sgrizzi

Lou Sgrizzi sadly passed away on August 8^th at the age of 68, after a 21 year battle with cancer. Lou led a full life, where he prioritized the people around him. His warmth was obvious to all; he loved spending time with and supporting his family, gathering with friends, being active and giving back to his community.

Born in Brooklyn to a large family, sport was a major part of Lou’s early life and he could usually be found on the football field, rugby pitch or with his friends. While in college at CW Post, he met the love of his life, Ellen. They married, started a family and eventually moved to New Jersey in 1983. Lou’s professional life was as rich as his personal life and he made many lasting relationships in a career serving hospitals all around the Northeast.

John K. Keenan

John K. Keenan (Jack), 88, of Little Silver passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 4 after a short stay at Riverview Hospital.

A Navy veteran, Jack circled the globe twice and saw naval combat during the Korean War. After an honorable discharge, he worked as a fireman at NWS Earle for several years before joining the US Postal Service where he worked for over forty years, first in Red Bank and then in Little Silver. He loved talking with patrons and knew everyone in town, although he jokingly referred to himself as “Oscar the Grouch”.

After his retirement, Jack kept busy, and in touch with the community, through several part time jobs (including working as an usher for Thompson Memorial Home) and volunteer work. He was an usher at St. James RC Church in Red Bank and did volunteer food delivery for The Center in Asbury Park for many years.

Joseph T. Walsh III

Joseph T. Walsh, III, 61, of Shrewsbury, died suddenly at home on Monday morning, August 2. He was a graduate of Red Bank Catholic High School and Northeastern University. A resident of Shrewsbury since 1991, Joe was on the town Zoning Board for 10 years, and also served as an integral member of the Shrewsbury Recreation Committee and the Shrewsbury Youth Athletic Association.

Joe has worked for J. Fletcher Creamer and Son for 26 years, becoming the first non-Creamer family member to hold the position of president, was named COO in 2016, and then CEO in 2020. He grew the company by creating a culture rooted in his strong work ethic and selfless approach to customer service. In 2016 he facilitated the sale of Creamer to API Group and was subsequently selected by API to lead their Specialty & Industrial service segments, overseeing 15 companies throughout North America. Joe served as president of the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association (UTCA) of New Jersey in 2012-2013 and 2018-2019, and was an executive member on the association’s board for many years. He started the NJ Chapter of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) in 2020 and served as its board president. He was also a trustee for the Heavy Highway Laborer’s Fund Local 172/472.

Stella Rohrmann (neé Chirchillo)

Stella Rohrmann (neé Chirchillo) was born on October 18, 1923, and grew up in Elizabeth, NJ. Her lifetime wish was to be a nurse, but though her dream was unattainable, she always tried to make sure her children respected the education she was unable to complete and spent her life as nurse/caretaker to her 5 children and 6 grandchildren, inviting anyone brought home through the years to eat at her table, stay in her home, and become part of the family.

As a young woman, she sang in operettas, played badminton, rode horses, survived tuberculosis, worked at the Singer factory as a bookkeeper, and fell in love at age 18 with a German-born machinist, also at Singer, who decided to join the US Army in 1942 to help defeat a German named Hitler. Her new husband brought Mom to Germany after the war; she set up household while he interrogated Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg. Mom learned a new language and culture, made lifelong friends, and began her life as an army wife, with two of her children born in the country her husband helped liberate. Her German skills never left her, but her children are grateful that her kitchen remained Italian.

Raymond John Chrisner

Raymond John Chrisner passed away peacefully at home on July 22, 2021. He was born August 10, 1942, to Frances and Michael Fill, later adopted by Marlen Chrisner. Ray was raised in Youngstown and Detroit. In 1968, he graduated second in his class from Wayne State University with a BS in electrical engineering and received his Masters in electrophysics from the Polytechnic Institute of New York. Ray’s career ranged from studying the effects of nuclear fallout on computers for Booz Allen to overseeing the installation of underwater fiber-optic cables for AT&T and Tyco. His work brought him around the globe on countless international business trips.

Joyce E. Scanlon

Joyce E. Scanlon (nee Nelson) passed away on 7/20/21. She was born in Kearny, New Jersey and graduated from Kearny High, where she was the drum majorette leading the ‘Kardinal’ marching band at every parade. After high school she attended Bucknell University, focusing on creative writing and a general pursuit of greater knowledge as a member of Delta Zeta sorority. After school, she worked for Blue Cross in Newark before marrying Martin J. Scanlon in 1957, who moved in across the street from her on Stuyvesant Ave. They relocated to Fair Haven and immersed themselves in the community, while raising four children. Joyce worked in the Fair Haven school system for many years, coached girls’ softball, and volunteered in any way she could. She also was an avid participant in Boy Scouts, beginning as a den mother, then working endless summers at Quail Hill Camp as the Arts & Crafts Director until she was awarded scout’s highest honor from the Monmouth County Council.