Obituaries

Richard Joseph Amses a musician, composer and music educator died at home in Rumson on December 15th, peacefully, surrounded by his family. The cause of death was kidney failure. He was 88.

The son of Joseph and Mary Amses, Richard was born in Bayonne, New Jersey.  He served in the US Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. He attended The Juilliard School and received a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music.  Richard was an accomplished musician and played the trumpet, flute and piano professionally – although he was best known for his distinctive style of trumpet playing, He had been a member of local 802 since 1954. In addition, he was a songwriter, lyricist, composer, arranger and joined The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in 1966.  Mr. Amses toured with many of the top big bands of the 50s and 60s including those of Walter Nye, Doc Severinsen, Skitch Henderson, Lester Lanin, Eliot Lawrence.   In New York City he often played at the popular nightclubs of the day such as the Latin Quarter, the Copa, and the Palladium.

Florence DeFazio, age 90, passed away on December 15, 2018.  Florence was born in the Bronx, NY to Salvatore and Bianca Passalacqua.  She was a Bookkeeper for the Monmouth County Board of Realtors until her retirement.  Florence was also the co-owner of Val’s Garden Center in Middletown, NJ.

Florence was predeceased by her husband Valentino DeFazio Sr. in 1985 and her brothers Edmund, Albert and Francis and her sister Dorothy.

She is survived by her son Valentino DeFazio Jr. (Luba) of Red Bank and her daughter Marie Popo of Long Branch; her four grandchildren Marisa Polito (Chris), Lara Summonte (John), Valentina Woszczak (Blaine) and Antonia Popo and Joey Marini; three great-grandchildren Grace Polito, Anna Summonte and Brooks Woszczak; and many loving nieces and nephews.  

Kevin W. Attridge, beloved Teacher and Coach, died peacefully on December 16, 2018, at the age of 70, at Riverview Medical Center Hospice after a lengthy illness.

The son of John and Catherine Attridge, Kevin grew up in Shrewsbury and graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School and Mount St. Mary’s College, Emmitsburg, Maryland.  After a brief stint at Red Bank Catholic, he was recruited to start the girl’s athletic program at Mater Dei High School where he dedicated his life as both a religion teacher and as a varsity coach – cross country, basketball, and indoor track for 46 years.

As a teacher, Kevin’s students learned the importance of spirituality and experienced a joy from their faith that would impact the rest of their lives.  Kevin saw the best in everyone, and helped everyone be their best.  He inspired his teams to excel by trusting in God, their teammates and themselves. 

Edith Villani, 92, passed peacefully on December 16, 2018 in Naples, Florida, where she resided with her oldest daughter, Donna.  “Edie” was born in North Bergen, NJ to parents Albert and Adelia Leone.  For most of her life she resided in Monmouth County, NJ, where she worked as a seamstress before turning her hobby and love of baking into a small business.  Edie was lovingly married to Don Villani in 1949 until his death in 1975.  She is predeceased by her sisters, Evelyn Lanfrank, Antoinette Arnone, and Josephine Scalzo and a brother John Caputo. 

Edith is survived by her two children, Donna Villani and Adele Miller, four grandchildren, Daniele Adams, Joseph DiCondina, Charles Miller, and Lauren Fastenau, and one great grandson, Hudson DiCondina.

Iris Olsson Kirkpatrick, 85, of Rumson passed away on Saturday, December 1, 2018 after a brief illness. Her family was at her side.

Iris was born in Jarvso, Gavleborg, Sweden, immigrated to the United States in her teens and settled with relatives. Following her graduation from Verona High School, she went on to study at the Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse. She worked in New Jersey, California, and Virginia. In 1992, she graduated from the Monmouth University School of Nursing with high honors. Iris also taught Swedish at The Language School.

Charles Peterson, age 95, passed away on December 10, 2018, at his home in Seabrook Village, Tinton Falls, NJ.  He previously resided in West New York, NJ, with his brother Edward for many years.

Born in Ridgewood Queens NY he was a retired tool and die-maker for Bell Laboratories.  Charles was an avid traveler and visited much of the world with his brother Edward.

Charles also served in the Army Air Corp. from 1942-1946, working in the motor pool, in China, Burma, and India.

He is survived by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.

Anne Bridget Psolka-Green, a loving and generous friend to many, especially those less fortunate than herself, died suddenly at home on Dec. 8. She was the daughter of James Green and Christine Psolka and the sister of Kevin Psolka-Green and his partner Emily Ho of San Diego.

Born in Long Branch, Annie grew up in Tinton Falls and Shrewsbury, N.J., and graduated from Shrewsbury Borough School and Red Bank Regional High School, where she majored in piano. As a teenager she taught piano privately to young students.

Annie received her B.A. in journalism from Rider University and was previously a case worker in the foster care system for Little Flower in Brooklyn, New York, where she was awarded a commendation by the Brooklyn borough president for her work with children.

Peter Pawlikowski, age 72, passed away on December 8, 2018, at Raritan Bay Medical Center with his wife and daughter Kristi by his side.  Peter was born in Bloomfield, NJ to George and Helen Pawlikowski.  Peter graduated from CBA and then served in the US Navy before graduating from Monmouth University with a degree in Business.  Peter has been the proud owner of the Oceanic Marina in Rumson, NJ, since 1992 working there since 1981.  Peter had a love of boats, the water, his Harley, telling stories and for enjoying life.  He was also a member of the Red Bank Elks and the Shrewsbury River Yacht Club.  

Loren D. Rabon, age 79, of Little Silver, NJ, passed away on December 4, 2018 at Allaire Rehab and Nursing, Freehold, NJ, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.  Loren was born in 1939 and raised in Kansas City, Kansas.  He competed in numerous sports during high school and at Dodge City Jr. College before joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1958.  His service in USMC included his duty in special services playing on the Marine Corps Football Team, and a highlight of his life was being chosen to play for the Marine Corps All-Stars at the Keystone Bowl in Okinawa, which they won.  

After returning from service, Loren met and married Linda Cox, then returned to college and graduated from his beloved University of Kansas with a BFA degree in Industrial Design.  When he was transferred by Butler Mfg. Co. to be the International Sales Rep. in NYC, his family moved to Little Silver in 1967.  In 1970 he established his own design/build pre-engineered construction company, Pre-Structured Building Systems in Fair Haven, NJ, which he and Linda owned until their retirement in 2011. 

Dr. Joseph M. Kyrillos, of Red Bank, NJ, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 3, 2018 at The Atrium at Navesink Harbor.

Devoted to his wife and children, he was a widely respected pediatrician, beloved by his family, friends, patients and all who knew him.  During his lifetime he was a global traveler, remaining close with his family in Lebanon, an avid gardener, a skilled bridge player and most recently, an accomplished painter.

Born in Byblos, Lebanon on December 11, 1929, he was graduated from College de la Sagesse in Beirut.  He went on to obtain his medical degree at Saint Joseph’s University, French Faculty of Medicine, and came to the United States to complete his residency in pediatrics at St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, NJ.

Dr. Kyrillos was married to Marguerite Kyrillos (nee Shlala) for more than 60 years.  They were married May 11, 1958.

A practicing pediatrician in Middletown for more than 50 years—first in private practice and later with the Medical Health Center of Middletown—he saw his last patients at age 85.