Obituaries

William B. “Bill” Havens, age 56 years, of Shrewsbury, NJ, died suddenly on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, NJ.

Born in Plainfield, NJ, July 30, 1963, son of June Lindland Havens and the late Richard Havens, Bill was raised in Fair Haven, NJ and lived for many years in Little Silver, NJ, prior to moving to Shrewsbury in 2013.

The life of this gentle giant is not ended by this obituary, but rather it is the hope that all reading this get a glimpse into some of the reasons that made Bill so special and why he will surely live on in the hearts and in the actions of so many.

Bill was a 1982 graduate of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, and went on to attend Elizabethtown College where he played baseball and soccer. An outstanding athlete from when he was a child, Bill was an accomplished pitcher.

On Saturday, March 21, 2020, Ms. Mildred Gwendolyn Moss-Chrystol departed this life peacefully at home after a long struggle with Parkinson's Disease.

“Neet” to family, “Moss” to colleagues, and “Gwen” to her husband was born July 24, 1941, in York County, S.C., to the late Albert R. Moss and Vernie Wright Moss. After graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1960, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Shaw University (HBCU) in Raleigh, N.C., in 1965. Mildred furthered her education with a Masters in Urban Education from Paterson State College (now known as William Paterson University) in Wayne, N.J. She later earned a Masters in School Counseling from Jersey City State College (now known as New Jersey City University) in Jersey City, N.J.  She also received a Certificate in Family Counseling. She was a proud member of the Newark Teachers Union (NTU) and the American Counselors Association (ACA).

Michael Patrick Kenny, 69, passed away peacefully with his wife, Sharon, at his side, on March 13, 2020.       

Michael, a son of Peter and Helen Cahill Kenny, grew up in New Brunswick and Sayreville. He graduated from St. Joseph HS in Metuchen and went to the University of Oklahoma to play Division I basketball. A knee injury ended his athletic career; he returned home and graduated from Rutgers College with Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude honors in English. He completed an alternate route certification program while teaching at Middlesex County College. Michael spent his entire career as an English teacher at East Brunswick HS, retiring in 2007. He instilled strong writing and analytic skills in his students, many of whom returned after graduation to tell him how well he prepared them for college. He ran the largest Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival in New Jersey for high school students, bringing in some of the nation's most renowned poets. Michael loved teaching and going to plays, athletic events, recitals and even weddings of his students. He was an assistant varsity basketball coach at East Brunswick HS and later basketball and baseball coach at Joyce Kilmer School in Milltown.         

Roberta Pisani Ryan died on April 5, 2020, in Newton, MA where she had been living for the last few years to be near her daughters who are residents there.

Born in Brooklyn, NY on December 18, 1941, to Robert A. Pisani and Cornelia Mae Beringer Morris, she was the oldest of six siblings; Susan, Johnny, Jimmy, Jane and Richard. As a teenager, she moved to Lincroft, New Jersey and graduated from Middletown High School.  While working at Bell Labs, she met the love of her life, Jim Ryan, and they were married in 1966. They moved to Little Silver in 1970 where they happily raised their three children.

Emma D. Adcock (nee DeChicchio), loving mother, grandmother and aunt, passed away, Wednesday, April 2, 2020 at Brandywine Senior Living Reflections at Brick. She was predeceased by her loving husband George F. Adcock. 

Born to an Italian family of eight children, she was a lifelong resident of Red Bank and longest resident on South Street, Red Bank. She was a member of St Anthony’s Catholic Church for over 70 years.

Robert William Day Sickles, 92, of Little Silver, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at his home on March 30, 2020.  He was born on September 28, 1927 in Red Bank, New Jersey, to Harold and Elsie Sickles.  Bob attended Red Bank High School and graduated from Admiral Farragut Academy in 1945. 

Bob married the love of his life, Adelaide Hoyt, in 1953.  He is survived by his loving daughters Virginia (partner Finn Gatewood) and Jane (husband Michael McMahon) and his sons Robert (wife Leslie Sickles) and Theodore; his grandchildren Tori Sickles O’Brien (husband Thomas O’Brien), Sasha Sickles, Tristan Sickles, and Liam McMahon; and his great grandson Jackson Sickles O’Brien. Bob was predeceased by his wife, Adelaide, his parents, Harold and Elsie, his sister, Charlotte Schwenker and his partner, Carol Perkins. Bob was very grateful to his son, Ted, for taking wonderful care of him in his last days.

Elinor R. D’Aloia, known to all as “Babs”, age 93, of Shrewsbury, NJ, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 27, 2020. A lifelong resident of Shrewsbury, Babs was a graduate of Red Bank High School and Centenary College, Hackettstown, NJ.

At the conclusion of World War II, Babs married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Patrick J. D’Aloia. Babs and Pat were married in 1949 and celebrated 61 years of marriage, until Pat’s passing in April 2010. Babs devoted her life to her family and her beloved Shrewsbury, for which she was the “go to” Historian. Having lived a “life of service”, Babsie enjoyed her years at the Little Silver Women’s Club, the Shrewsbury Hose Company Women’s Auxiliary, the Shrewsbury Homesteaders, and was a member of Sands Beach Club for over 60 years. To those who knew her, Babs loved life and was never one to miss a party.

Salvatore Joseph (Sal) Mirrione, 94, of Red Bank, NJ, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 28, 2020. Sal was born in Brooklyn, NY, to Pasquale and Marianne Mirrione. He was one of 10 siblings, all of whom predeceased him. Married to his wife, Bernadette (Billie), for 66 years, together they raised their 6 children in Brooklyn and Hollis, NY.

A proud veteran of World War II, Sal fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was a Purple Heart recipient. Following his service to his country, he had a career as a linotype operator and proofreader for Paramount and Sorg printing companies in Manhattan, NY. Upon retirement, Sal and Billie moved to Toms River, NJ and enjoyed many happy years there. For the last several years, Sal resided with his daughter, Patricia and son-in-law, Carlos.

Maxwell Thomas Holden, 3, was a beautiful soul whose smile always lit up the room. He passed away on March 24th after a two year battle with neuroblastoma.

Max was born to Carrie and Tahj Holden on October 22, 2016 in Red Bank, NJ. He adored his big brother Cole as well as a handful of Ellies and Jacks.

Maxwell always woke up happy and approached each day with a smile. He enjoyed the beach, playing outside and being with his family and friends. He loved dancing, listening to music and going to school. The world will never be the same without him.

Antonio P. Ferraro, age 88, of Eatontown, NJ peacefully passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2020. Antonio was born in Long Branch, NJ to Maria and Gaetano Ferraro. He worked for Postal Annex in Shrewsbury upon his retirement in 1991. Antonio was a loving and devoted husband and father who will be dearly missed, and always in our hearts.