Obituaries

Thomas Michael Saporito (93) of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, rejoined for all Eternity his beloved wife of 60 years Fran, on February 18, 2019 surrounded by his children peacefully in his home.  Born in Brooklyn, he was the son of the late Rose (Noto) and Joseph Saporito. Tom changed the lives of those whom he touched as a husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, uncle, friend and neighbor.

As a veteran of "The Greatest Generation," Tom served our country during WWII in the Pacific, on the naval aircraft carrier USS Bennington. After managing the family business manufacturing ladies’ coats, he then joined the New York City Police Department (with his claim to fame of delivering 4 babies while on the job) until his retirement in 1979, after which time he worked in executive security for M&T Bank.

Zack David Roberts, 95, passed away on February 14, 2019.  He was born in Plymouth, PA.   Zack was a Past National Commander of American Ex-Prisoners of War. He served with the 179th Regimental Combat Team 45th Division as a Sergeant and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement in Ground Combat, three major Battle Stars in the European, African and Middle East Theaters of operation and New Jersey’s Distinguished Service Medal.  At the battle of Anzio he was one of four surviving wounded out of a company of 200, was captured by the Germans on February 16, 1944, and spent 15 months in German prison camps.  He became the National Commander of the Ex-Prisoners of War 1999-2000 and testified before the Veterans Affairs Committee to help and protect the benefits all disabled veterans.

Doris Marinaccio, 66, passed away surrounded by her loving family and the warm and wonderful staff at the Meridian Health and Rehabilitation Center in Shrewsbury, NJ.

Born in Montréal, she emigrated with her mother and father to the US, where she settled in Summit, NJ in 1954. Doris was a Renaissance woman who lived off the grid in upstate New York, opened a craft store and moved back to Long Branch, New Jersey to raise her daughter Ashley as a single parent. A world class mother, some of her parenting highlights included trekking all over the east coast for dance competitions, summers at Tradewinds beach club, family barbecues, attending her daughter’s theatre productions and encouraging her through her Master’s and Ph.D. programs. She loved Jesus, The Rolling Stones, celebrity gossip and CNN (particularly Anderson Cooper). She cared deeply about human rights issues, the state of the world, and made sure to vote in every single local and national election.

Thomas A. Hammell, 62, of Red Bank, passed away peacefully at his home on February 7, 2019.  Tom was born in Long Branch to Alexander and Ella (Ryan) Hammell.  Tom was the owner of Body Shop Supply.  He loved camping with his wife Maggie; his Yankees and going to the games with his nephew Chris; and attending Bible Study and Church Fellowship at the Lincroft Bible Church. 

Tom is predeceased by his parents and his sister Elizabeth Ann Hammell.  He is survived by his wife of 26 years Maggie; his brothers Willie Hammell of Beaufort, NC and Paul Hammell of Rahway, NJ; his nephews Christopher Hammell of Rahway, NJ and Mark Hammell of Digmans Ferry, PA; and his nieces Catherine Anna of Thompson, PA, Sarah Paterson of Glen Burnie, MD and Samantha McGinty of Jackson, NJ.

Judith A. Thompson (nee Frink) left us on 2/9/19. She was born in Troy, NY and resided in Toms River, NJ for the past 10 years. Judy was a proud RBC ‘58 graduate, active in alumni activities and reunions. Judy and her husband Ray raised their 4 children in River Plaza and resided there for 43 years. Together, they owned and operated Mostly Monograms in Fair Haven and River Plaza for 20 years. Judy was also employed by the Borough of Red Bank as the Secretary to the Health Officer for 14 years, retired in 2004. She then worked at Rite Aid in Toms River for 8 years. Judy was an avid reader and enjoyed cooking, sewing, traveling, playing Mahjongg and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

John B. “Jack” Davies Jr, 90, of Red Bank, NJ and Bonita Springs, FL died on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family. Born in Oaklyn, NJ, Jack was a long-time Monmouth Co resident and a winter resident of Bonita Springs FL.  He attended Mt Holly High School, Allegheny College and Rutgers University studying Chemistry and Civil Engineering.  He and his brother Bill formed Davies Brothers Co which they ran for 25 years.  Jack worked for Parsons Brinkerhoff on the design and construction of the NJ Turnpike, and the Garden State Parkway and then directly for the NJ Highway Authority.  He also managed many large New Jersey civil and highway construction projects, while working at Reid Contracting, Sam Breaen Company and Stavola Contracting Co. Jack was also involved in various real estate development and consulting projects. Jack proudly served his country in the US Marine Corps, enlisting after High School, where he was deployed to the Pacific.  He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Red Bank and St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bonita Springs.

Manira Pierre, 86, passed away on February 4^th in Long Branch.  Manira was born in Haiti to Madacier Saint-Fleur and Loza Lamyr.  She was a clerk-assistant at Keystone Laundries in Asbury Park.  For the past 17 years she has lived in Tinton Falls and was a communicant of Holy Spirit RC Church in Asbury Park.

Manira is predeceased by her husband Phanuel Pierre who died in 1996.  She is survived by her daughter Mimose Simon of Tinton Falls; her sons Patrimoine Pierre & his wife Josette of NY and Dichelot Pierre of Tinton Falls; her sisters Rose Antoine Saint-Fleur of FL and Junia Dieuvieul of PA; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Dr. Lawrence A. O’Neill, 84, formerly of Middletown, NJ died January 30, 2019. Lawrence was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of William and Lucretia O’Neill.  Raised in Highlandtown, he received his B.S. from the University of Maryland, his M.S. from Catholic University, and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

He started his career with the United States National Security Agency in Washington, D.C. immediately after completing his undergraduate degree. After more than a decade at the NSA, he moved to New Jersey to work for Bell Laboratories in Holmdel where he worked 27 years until his retirement in 1994.  He also served 5 years on the executive committee of the IEEE/ACM Design Automation Conference (DAC) and as the General Chairman of the 24^th conference in Miami, Florida.

Stacey L. Walling of Middletown passed away Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at Monmouth Medical Center. Stacey was a life-long resident of Middletown and an integral part of the Middletown Garden Center family. Her friendliness and kindness to all people, and her devotion and love for animals, is a tribute to the beauty of her heart and soul, along with her fun sense of humor. She thoroughly enjoyed gardening, crocheting, shopping, bowling, trips to Atlantic City and watching the Patriots, but most special to her were her relationships with her niece and nephews.

She lives on through her siblings, Gregg, Judy, Diane and her husband Dan and their son Devin, Jill and her husband Dominick and their children Danielle and Jared.

Carolynn Ozar-Diakon, born in Plymouth England, passed on the 27th of January at home surrounded by her loving family. Carolynn is survived by her husband Bob and children; Christopher (Haarika), Brett (Sally), and Gabrielle. Grammy to Beau and Reese. She was an Aunt to Alaina, Simon and Olivia.

Carolynn, who spent over 30 years in real estate, was the Founder and Senior Partner of Resources Real Estate, a leading agency with offices across Monmouth County. She arrived in America with just $200 dollars, but also with a lot of wit and tenacity. Carolynn worked her way from odd jobs and inspirational counseling to eventually landing in real estate.  From a single small office, her firm grew rapidly and now employs 90 agents and staff. Carolynn, however, was quick to point out that her biggest achievement was her family. Resources Real Estate was her legacy. She also considered it a point of pride that so many of her customers became her friends.