Obituaries

Kay Mullaney Girling, age 79 of Middletown, formally of West Long Branch, passed away on February 9, 2017.  Born in Newark, NJ, Kay resided in West Long Branch before moving to Middletown in 1967.  She worked for Kitson Chevrolet in Eatontown and Wall Lincoln Mercury in Shrewsbury.  

Kay was predeceased by her husband Robert S. Girling III in 1992; her father Frank B. Mullaney; her mother and stepfather Thelma and Clifford Brower; her brother Donald H. Mullaney; her sister Joan Lamberson and her beloved grandson Donald J. Cyrta.  She is survived by her loving, caring daughter Sharon Girling; her sisters Roberta Maletto of Eatontown and Burnice Jarosz of Jordan, NY; her grandchildren Nina Deangelo and her husband Brian, Robert Cano and Katherine Cyrta; her great-grandchildren Justin MacDonald, Patricia Cyrta, Sophie Deangelo, Kianna, Kimmy and Christian Rodriquez; and her nieces and nephew, including Morgan Frenk who played a special part in her “Kee’s” life and was loved dearly.

George Fleury Melick Jr., 92, of Middletown, passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2017.  George served his country in World War II and the Korean War earning a Bronze Star.  He was a graduate of Princeton University and Columbia University.  He was a Mechanical Engineering Professor at Rutgers University.  George was a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Red Bank at Tower Hill.  

George is survived by his four children, Robert of Red Bank, Linda and husband William Reynolds of Flemington, Judith Melick of Long Branch, and Karen Melick and wife Clare Thomas of Santa Monica, CA; sister Carolyn Derr of Charlotte, NC; six grandchildren, Emily, Dean, Kelly, Keith, David and Gregory; and one great grandchild, Penny.  George was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Florence B. Melick.

Anne was born in Kingscourt, County of Cavan, Ireland, and arrived with her mother, Elizabeth, and sister, Marie, at Ellis Island on January 7, 1929, to join her father, Patrick Brady.  While growing up on the West Side of New York, Anne attended Holy Name Grade School and graduated from Assissium Institute.  She worked for many years in New York, including on the Manhattan Project, and began traveling the world.

Anne married John T. Hordych, Jr. in 1970, making their home in Centereach, Long Island.  Several years later, they moved to New Jersey where Anne was employed by Riverview Medical Center.  She continued to pursue her love of travel as well as skiing, tennis and all things Irish while completing an Associate of Arts degree from Brookdale Community College.  Upon her retirement from Riverview, Anne and John cruised to many ports, had regular outings to Atlantic City with long-time friends and made several trips to Anne’s beloved Ireland.  

In 2011, after 40 years of marriage, John passed away.  Anne subsequently moved from Red Bank to The Brandywine in Shrewsbury where she made many friends among the residents and staff.  She passed away peacefully on January 28, 2017.

Mary Elizabeth McDermott of Monmouth Beach, formerly of Old Bridge, passed away on January 29, 2017, at her home with her family at her side.

Mary is predeceased by her husband, James Michael McDermott; parents, Julia M. Connolly and Thomas F. Connolly; her brothers, John J. Connolly, Thomas F. Connolly Jr., and William E. Connolly; son-in-law, William C. Gentry; mother and father-in-law, Katherine (Rena) McDermott and Joseph McDermott.  She is survived by her children James B. McDermott and his wife Bonnie of Cary NC, Christine McDermott of St. Petersburg FL, Thomas J. McDermott of Toms River NJ, Michael McDermott and his wife Brenda of East Rochester NY, and Cathleen Callinan and her husband John of Rumson NJ; brothers, David Connolly and his wife Tanomjit of Springfield VA, Brendan Connolly and his wife Betty Ann of Medford MA, and sister-in-law Kathleen Connolly of Saugus MA.  Mary is also survived by her grandchildren, Erin and Sean McDermott, Lauren and Eli Gentry, Brendan and Kellan McDermott, John (Jack), Catherine and Maeve Callinan.

Harold E. Ryder, Jr., 94 of Toms River, passed away peacefully on January 27th.  Harold was a long-time resident of the River Plaza section of Middletown.  He was a 50 year member of the Tower Hill Presbyterian Church in Red Bank.  

Harold was born in Brooklyn, NY.  He served in the Army during World War II.  After the Army he earned a Bachelor’s Degree and began a career as a Mechanical Engineer for the Department of Defense at Ft. Monmouth.  He retired in 1994.

Virginia M. O’Neill, 80, Red Bank, NJ died January 15, 2017.

Ginny was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the youngest daughter of Herbert and Marie Arthur.  A proud graduate of The Institute of Notre Dame, a private all-girls Catholic high school in Baltimore, she married in 1956 and in 1968 she and her husband, Lawrence, moved to Middletown, NJ to raise their two girls.  Ginny gave countless hours of her time to her church, to the local Girl Scouts of America, to the Women’s Center at Brookdale Community College and to the Oak Hill Woman’s Club.  She returned to school, attending Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ, where she received her Associate’s Degree in Computer Science.  She went on to have a successful career at American Bell and Lucent Technologies.

She traveled the world with her husband and her retirement years were spent doting on her grandchildren.  Later, she enjoyed her life at the Atrium in Red Bank where she remained active, making new friends, serving on committees and enjoying the view of the beautiful Navesink River.  

Nicole Vezin-Clark, 73 of Tinton Falls, passed away on January 15, 2017, in Red Bank.  Nicole was born in La Rochelle, France to John and Odette (Geay) Vezin.  Nicole was a self-employed beautician before retiring and spending time in Isalmorda, Florida where she was a part time resident for 13 years.  Nicole and her husband Joseph have lived in Tinton Falls for 19 years.  Nicole visited France annually and loved spending with her family that still resides in France.

Kathryn Margolin Richter, 57, of Little Silver, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2017, surrounded by her loving family.  She was a loving wife, mother, daughter and aunt.  Kathy was an avid traveler and enjoyed tennis, skiing and spending time with her family.  Kathy was a kind, caring, generous person and will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

Kathy was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri.  She graduated from Tulane University before moving to New York City where she worked and met her husband Robert at Bear Stearns, later moving to New Jersey to raise her family.

She is survived by her beloved husband Robert John Richter; her daughters Allison Macy Richter and Elizabeth Ann Richter; her parents Robert and Dorothy Margolin; nieces Caitlin Perry and Macy Margolin; brother and sister-in-law Thomas and Sue Richter and nephews Travis, Eric and Kyle; and sister-in-law Dorothea Eusner and nephew Thor.  Kathy was predeceased by her brother Charles Margolin.

Daniel D. O’Connell 89 years old passed away peacefully at home January 13, 2017 surrounded by his loving family.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 62 years Marie Allen O’Connell, parents Daniel and Catherine O’Connell, brother Edward and sisters Alice and Kay.  Dan is survived by his six children, their spouses, and eight grandchildren.

Dan’s children and spouses are Diane (Dee) and Rich West of Tinton Falls, NJ; Kevin and Katie O’Connell of Yardley, PA; Carol O’Connell and Ran French of Eatontown, NJ; Tom and Christine O’Connell of East Greenbush, NY; Katie and Mark Schultz of Rumson, NJ; and Peter O’Connell of Rumson, NJ.

Dan’s grandchildren are Bill and Jeff West of Philadelphia, PA; Kaelyn O’Connell of Boston MA; Caroline Schultz of Rumson, NJ; Liam and Erin O’Connell of Yardley PA; and Mackenzie and Kieran O’Connell of West Long Branch, NJ.

Emil F. Tobias, 96 of Middletown, passed away on January 10, 2017. Originally from Western Pennsylvania, Emil spent most of his adult life in New Jersey and after his retirement in Cape Cod, Massachusetts with his wife Marian. He was the first of six children born to George and Anna Gumca Tobis, immigrants from Czechoslovakia. He attended schools in Farrell, PA and Rutgers University in NJ. He served in CCC 1938 to 1940 and in the Army in WWII from 1942 to 1946, in the Pacific Theater, in Medical Administration, ultimately achieving the rank of Captain. Emil ended his service in Okinawa. He married Marian Hanville, an Army Nurse, in March 1946.

Upon his return to New Jersey, Emil worked for Fidelity Union Bank in Newark, becoming Vice President and retiring in 1985. He and Marian then moved to Cape Cod, MA. He was active in Our Lady of the Cape, Brewster, Dennis Senior Center and Score. Emil and Marian traveled extensively in the US first camping and then by motor home. Eventually he and Marian settled in Middletown to be near their children.