Obituaries

Juila W. “Bud” Bedle, age 94, of Holmdel, NJ peacefully passed away on Saturday, June 26, 2021.

Gertrude Read Massey Murphy Stratton – “Gigi”, of Red Bank, NJ and Tequesta, FL passed away peacefully in her home on June 27^th with her loving family at hand.

Gert was born in June 1925, in Brooklyn, NY, the only child of Harry Bostwick Massey and Mignon Read Massey. She was predeceased by her first husband of 25 years George W. Murphy, her second husband of 41 years Donald W. Stratton and her best friend in life: Magdalene Senise Beetlestone – “Maggie”.

She attended St. Angela Hall and Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn and graduated from Finch College in Manhattan.  

Eileen H. Garvin (nee Poling) left us on 6/23/21. She was born in Red Bank and resided in Eatontown for 38 Years. Eileen was a ’60 Freehold Regional High School graduate. She enjoyed horseback riding, gymnastics, sewing and ice skating. Eileen went on to receive her L.P.N from Princeton Hospital School of Practical Nursing. She Married Gerry Nevad in 1963 and had two sons.

She worked at Riverview Medical Center for 5 years before joining Dr. John B. Movelle’s office; Fair Haven for 27 years and private duty jobs on the side. In 1975 she re-married and had a daughter. Eileen enjoyed traveling to visit family in Northwood N.H., Florida and Virginia. She was her mother’s caregiver for 20 years while always helping out a friend or neighbor in need. She enjoyed social gatherings with her friends and loved weekly trips to the diner for lunch.

Ann C. Fitzgerald (nee Caruso), daughter of the late Louis and Blanche Rossi Caruso, died peacefully on June 21, 2021 at her daughter Maryanne’s home in Red Bank surrounded by her loving family. Ann was born on July 13, 1937 in Red Bank and resided there her entire life. She was a proud graduate of Red Bank (NJ) High School and Glassboro State Teachers College (NJ), where she met her husband, Martin J. Fitzgerald. They were married in 1959.

Ann knew early on that she wanted to devote her life to teaching children. She was a gifted teacher of math, algebra and technology for over forty years, most recently at St. James Grammar School in Red Bank where she taught multi-generations of families for 38 years before retiring in 2012. She proudly received the honor of Distinguished Alumni of Red Bank Regional High School.

Anna Ritacco Fitzpatrick, age 79, of Matawan, NJ, passed peacefully into God’s arms on Sunday, June 13, 2021 at Springhill Nursing Home, Matawan, NJ.

Anna was born at home in Nutley, NJ. Anna was the fourth of seven children born to the late Joseph and Mary Aiello Ritacco. Anna attended elementary school at Holy Family Catholic School in Nutley, NJ and graduated from Nutley High School in 1959.

Anna began her professional career in banking at People’s Bank in Belleville, NJ as a teller. She worked her way through the ranks eventually being promoted to Vice President of Commercial Lending at Broad National Bank in Newark, NJ, where she worked until 1991. In 1992, Anna switched career paths and became a real estate agent with Caldwell Banker Real Estate in Holmdel, NJ, making the Million Dollar Club in multiple years during her agency career.

Brian Ronald Riddle, 52, of Little Silver, N.J, passed away on June 7th, 2021, at Monmouth Medical Center. Born in Red Bank, N.J, he was a proud native and resident of the Jersey Shore for his entire life. He graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in 1987 and will forever be a Colt. A talented athlete, he was inducted into the CBA Hall of Fame for his contributions to the 1985 state championship golf team. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Mount Saint Mary's in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1991, where he made many lifelong friends and was an honorary patron of the OTT House.

Brian had a tremendously successful 30-year career on Wall Street, beginning as a utility trader at NatWest Bank. He worked for various firms in many different capacities. Most recently, he was employed by Citibank as head of North American Cash Equity Block Trading. 

Charlotte (“Shirley”) A. Cunneff died peacefully on June 3 at Care One at King James Nursing Home in Atlantic Highlands, N.J., with two of her five sons, David and Carl, by her side. She was 93.

Born in Philadelphia on Dec. 28, 1927, Shirley grew up in the Germantown section of the city, the oldest of two children of Charles and Ann Garvey. After attending Temple University and graduating from Moore College of Art & Design, both in Philadelphia, in the late 1940s, she went to work for a local department store as a sketcher of newspaper fashion ads. She married Dr. Raymond L. Cunneff in 1953, and the first of five sons, Raymond L. Cunneff III, came along the following year while Dr. Cunneff was serving in the Air Force in Washington, D.C., and Shirley was continuing her art studies at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design.

John M. Chapski, 66, passed away at home in Red Bank on June 3, 2021, after a short battle with cancer.

Born in Long Branch and raised in Atlantic Highlands, John was a lifelong resident of Monmouth County. He was a proud graduate of Red Bank Catholic High School, Class of 1973, and continued his studies at Rutgers University, Livingston College.

For the past 13 years, John worked as a Procurement Specialist at GEA North America. Previously, he was the Owner/ President of Global Components & Controls for 22 years. Throughout his career, John had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe and Asia. In addition to travel, John enjoyed golf, yardwork, barbequing, James Patterson novels, and a good drink with friends.

Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather and Friend left us peacefully on June 4, 2021. He was 78 years old. Art, as he was fondly referred to by his friends, was born in Passaic, NJ, grew up in Elmwood Park, NJ and attended Seton Hall University on a Baseball Scholarship for Pitching.

He met Dolly, the love of his life, when he was 13 years old and they have been inseparable ever since. Together they raised their four children in Colts Neck where they resided for 45 years before deciding to move to Monmouth Beach last year.

Art began his career as an accountant and later owned a successful Employment Agency. He was a dedicated athlete, coach and sports fan. In earlier years, he was a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron, basketball court as well as the pitcher’s mound and actually earned scholarships for all three sports. He actively coached his daughters and son’s teams, and if he wasn’t coaching, he could always be found on the sidelines cheering them on. In later years, he enjoyed watching his grandchildren play and traveling with his wife and friends.

Ellen Little Stratton passed away on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. She was a beloved Mother, Sister, Wife, Friend, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and Great-Great Grandmother. Her good looks are only outmatched by her intelligence and wit. A straight-A student turned exceptional business woman, she knew what she wanted out of life, so she went out and got it.

Ellen married the love of her life, Laird “Buck” Stratton in 1963 and raised their beautiful family here in New Jersey. After retiring from real estate, she spent her days doing the things she loved: traveling with friends, going to Monmouth Park, reading English mysteries and finding a great happy hour with her best friend of 60 years, Patty Murphy. Ellen was ferociously loyal and dedicated to her family and friends. She was a fantastic cook, knew how to throw a great party and the person you always wanted in your corner.