Obituaries

Erik C. Bertelsen, Sr., passed away on January 9, 2019.  Born in the Bronx on January 8, 1916 to Danish immigrants, Erik was the third of 4 boys. A member of the "Greatest Generation", he lived through the Great Depression and served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. Following the War, he pursued a successful banking career serving as Director and Senior Vice President of First Merchants National Bank and President of the Monmouth County Banker's Association. Later in his career and upon retirement, Erik consulted with SCORE and taught courses at Monmouth University and the American Institute of Banking.

As a devout Christian, he served the Lord as an Under Deacon, Lay Reader, Vestry member and Sunday School teacher. In addition, Erik served numerous boards and volunteer organizations. These included the Board of Directors at Shore Area YMCA in Asbury Park, the Camp Speers Committee (President), the Jersey Shore Medical Center Board (Treasurer) and the Atrium Residents Association (Treasurer). He was particularly proud of the fact that he earned the rank of Eagle Scout while in the Boy Scouts. An avid sailor, Erik spent many summers with his family in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Stephen Andrew Scott – dearly loved son, brother, friend, talented photographer, and lover of the outdoors – died on November 30, 2018.  He was 55 years old and a resident of Tempe, AZ.

Born in Red Bank, NJ, Steve grew up in Little Silver, NJ.  In 1981, after completing high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served as an Aircraft Radar Systems Technician, part of which time he was stationed in Japan.  He was honorably discharged in 1985 with the rank of Corporal.  Following discharge, he attended college in New Jersey and enjoyed working at Bell Laboratories in Middletown, NJ.

Robert Marshall Hook, age 88, of River Plaza, died on January 4, 2019.

Born in Cambridge, MA, he attended schools in Watertown, MA, Dover, NH, Bradord, MA and Waltham, MA, where he graduated from high school.  He received his BA degree from Tufts University, Medford, MA, and his MBA from Monmouth University, W. Long Branch, NJ.

Growing up he attended Boy Scout camps and spent many years as a staff member and boat pilot for the Merrimack Valley YMCA Camp Lawrence on Bear Island on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH.

On January 4, 2019, Dennice Rioux Carey, wonderful friend, wife of 67 years to Ray, mother of 3, and grandmother of 6, passed away at the age of 90.  Dennice was born in Attleboro, MA in 1928 and majored in Zoology at Mt. Holyoke where she won the Science Award and graduated in 1950 cum laude. She was an instructor in Biology at Connecticut College when she married Ray in 1951, and demonstrated her rebellious streak when, expecting Sheila in 1953, she successfully fought the policy removing pregnant women from active teaching roles.  She later left teaching for an old-fashioned partnership with Ray in which she was the “roll up your sleeves” volunteer, mother par excellence, home manager, and the person who made sure everything related to the house and family was running smoothly.  That also meant moves for Ray’s jobs - from Connecticut to New Jersey to Montreal then back to New Jersey, moves she handled with aplomb and grace.  While warm, funny, and kind, she was also fierce in her beliefs. This included socially progressive political views to practical activism, such as when she took on The Man at Rumson Country Day School on behalf of holding one’s utensils European style as Lisa and Mike had learned in Montreal. That interaction did not end well for The Man.  While generally easygoing she was never afraid to speak up and had a quick and effective wit.  A tireless volunteer, she invested time, effort, and her intelligence into bettering the things she believed in, from Junior League when she was young, through a lifelong involvement in MSPCA, to helping manage Special People United to Ride (SPUR) later in life.

Shrewsbury – Ann R. Lettieri, 90, passed away on January 3, 2019.  Ann was born in Red Bank to Nicholas and Tina Pizzo. 

Ann was a communicant of St. Anthony of Padua and a member of the Elks Lodge #233 in Red Bank. Before her marriage to Frank Lettieri, she worked at PSE&G in Newark.  She was a survivor of the Woodbridge Train Wreck on February 6, 1951.

She is predeceased by her husband Frank and her brothers Thomas and Peter Pizzo.  She is survived by her son Stephen N. Lettieri of Red Bank, her daughter Anne Marie Egan and her husband Mitchell of Shrewsbury and her grandsons Braden Egan and Nicholas and his wife Meghan  Lettieri.

Visitation will be Tuesday, January 8^th from 6 to 9 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 9^th at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua, 121 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank.  Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.

All Services are private.

Christopher Worden Popper, 54, of Wilmington, NC passed away December 24^th at his home.  He was born in Fayetteville, NC, to Stephen and Carole Popper, Red Bank NJ.

Christopher was a proud Veteran of Desert Storm. A graduate of Red Bank Regional HS, his swim team won the State Championship for the ‘82-‘83 season. During his lifetime he worked in the newspaper industry for the Asbury Park Press, Wilmington StarNews and the Myrtle Beach Sun News. He loved to cook and was most proud of his clam chowder. Those who knew him know of his generosity and his kind and caring soul; from his childhood friends whom he still was close with, to someone he just met in passing.

It is with great sadness that the family of Joan Ferrante announces the passing of their beloved mother, on December 28^th, 2018.

Born in Paterson New Jersey in 1931, Joan relocated to the Jersey Shore after marrying her husband of forty years, Joseph Ferrante. She raised four children in Holmdel, providing each of them with both a vision for their life’s work and a strong faith. She was a remarkable cook, an avid reader, enjoyed attending Bible study and teaching her grandchildren how to play Liverpool. They tenderly called her Mimi.

 Elizabeth “Liz” Readie, 79, of Red Bank, passed away December 26, 2018 surrounded by family at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Originally from Roselle Park, she graduated from Roselle Park High School, where she met and later married her high school sweetheart, Jack Readie. Together they were the proud owners of Readie’s Fine Foods in Red Bank for 42 years, forging lifelong friendships with customers and fellow business owners. After “retiring,” she worked part time at Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe for 16 years; she loved her second work family, as well as the almond butter crunch. She volunteered extensively throughout her life, most recently with Holiday Express.

Michael James Gaynor, age 34, passed away on December 24th 2018. Michael was born in Red Bank and was a resident of Oceanport and Rumson before moving to Eatontown.  He was a graduate of Red Bank Regional and Monmouth Vocational School, specializing in auto body, in the class of 2003. Michael’s passion was working on cars, fishing, spending time with his family, being a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan, and being a new father.

Michael is predeceased by his maternal grandparents James and Rosemary Gallagher; his paternal grandparents William and Ella Gaynor Jr,; and his father William H Gaynor III.  He is survived by his mother Rosemary (Midge) Gaynor of Atlantic Highlands; his brother William H Gaynor IV and his wife Amanda of Highlands; his sister Erin Hawley and her husband Martin of Atlantic Highlands; his Fiancé Kimberly (Kim) Graham of Eatontown; and his precious baby boy Michael (Mikey) James Gaynor Jr.