Obituaries

It is with great sadness that the family of Josephine Scalzo announces that she passed away peacefully on July 28, 2018.

Josephine was born on in West New York, NJ. She had one brother and 3 sisters and was a life-long resident of Monmouth County. While working at Eisner's Uniform Factory in Red Bank, Josephine Leone met her future husband, Joseph P. Scalzo. Josie and Joe were married on June 1, 1953 and were married until his passing in April of 1993. Together they raised two children, Linda A. and Joseph L. Scalzo. Josie demonstrated unconditional love for her extended family and thanked God daily for her blessings. She will be remembered by her family and friends for her kind heart, extreme pride and devotion to family, and a sharp sense of humor.

Alexandrianna Lowe, age 28, went home to her heavenly Father on July 22, 2018, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey.  She was born on Friday, October 13, 1989 (which she hated), in Portsmouth, Virginia.  Lexi was fierce, wicked smart, and loyal to a fault.  Not one to back down from a challenge, she was a force to be reckoned with.  Lexi was a 1999 World Champion Pop Warner cheerleader but was more proud of the fact that she caught a catfish with her bare hands.  She loved crabbing, royal history, and Netflix.  She loved country music, the Broadway play Chicago, and the movies Dirty Dancing and Titanic.  When she was younger, you might have found her trying to pull snakes from rock walls, or making mud pies for dinner.  Lexi was a beautiful girl with sparkling green eyes, and had the perfect amount of freckles sprinkled across her nose.  Her heart was as large as her smile.  If she loved you, she loved you.  She was the best co-pilot and personal assistant a mom could ever want.  She had a knack for thinking outside the box.  Recently, she single handedly saved a family vacation after several last minute flight cancellations, rerouting everyone on the fly, all the while juggling a toddler.  Lexi loved rice pudding, chili, and pigeons.  (The stuffed cabbage kind, especially with creamed corn and mashed potatoes, Baba style.)  Her only fear was riding the Flyers at Knoebels.  

Marco J. Bonomi, age 84, of Fair Haven, passed away Wednesday, July 25^th unexpectedly from complications from heart bypass surgery.  Marco was born in Cares, Italy.  He was the only child of Guiseppe (Joseph) and Raggiunta, who raised their son in Corona, New York.  After graduating high school in 1952, Marco went to work at Con Ed until 1955 when he joined the Navy.  He was honorably discharged in 1957 and took advantage of the GI Bill and enrolled at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, where he graduated summa cum laude with a BS in electrical engineering.  The following year he received his Masters degree from New York University.

Doris Jean Giblin, 90, passed away peacefully in her home the morning of July 23, 2018 after a prolonged illness. Born in Red Bank to the late Lester E. Shibla and Olive P. Fary, she lived locally for majority of her life, returning to the area in 2000 to spend more time with her family after residing in the Sarasota-Bradenton, FL area for nearly 20 years.

Doris was a talented artist who graduated from the Red Bank High School a year early, and then turned down an appointment to the Pratt Institute. Instead, she entered the workforce, and was a nearly 40-year employee of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. She was a longtime communicant of the Reformed Church of Tinton Falls; and, a lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Little Silver Volunteer Fire Department who continued to march in the borough’s Memorial Day parade well into her eighties. Doris and several friends also maintained a six-decade-long monthly lunch club tradition affectionately known as the Squirt Club.

William Mason Caldwell, 58, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2018 into a world of endless sun and surf surrounded by his loved ones.  He fought a long, hard battle with pancreatic cancer and faced his illness with the same dignity, grace and determination as he lived his life.

Bill impatiently burst into this world in 1960 not wanting to waste a single second to get started on a lifetime of adventure.  He was raised in Fair Haven, New Jersey and graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School.  He received a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Monmouth University.  He began his sales career at the age of three when he picked the neighbors prized roses and sold them back to the owners for a “paper dollar”.  He had a successful career in Sales with the Asbury Park Press for 30 years.  His retirement in 2015 allowed him time to pursue his many hobbies and interests.  A talented wood worker, his pride and joy is “Willa”, a Chesapeake Light Craft that he built with lots of sweat, determination and perseverance.  Bill lived his life to the fullest and was an accomplished surfer, snowboarder and skate boarder. He enjoyed kayaking, sailing, fishing and paddle boarding.  His love of the ocean took him around the world surfing, fishing and enjoying the sun with his friends and family.

Rita Ida Gallagher (nee Brieden) passed away on Sunday, July 15, 2018, at her home in Ocean Twp, NJ, with her daughter Laurajane Wikoff by her side and one of her favorite Frank Sinatra songs playing in the background.  She was 94 years old and was born in Jersey City, NJ.

Everyone who knew Rita thought of her as an immeasurably loving, optimistic, strong and smart woman.  She had an infectious sense of humor that won everyone over.  She was self-sacrificing and always willing to help anyone in need.  She always had kind words to say about everyone she met.  She was an adoring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.  She had a passion for sewing and painting and often blessed her family and friends with handmade gifts that they treasured.  She loved traveling with her husband Harold “Gal” and would often boast about the 32 cross-country trips they made by car.  The only state she never saw was Oregon.

Doris Pomphrey Robinson, late of Red Bank, formerly of Rumson and Tinton Falls; age 100. Doris was the daughter of the late Edwin and Olive Pomphrey. She was a 1935 graduate of Rumson High School.

She worked for five years in Washington DC for the Tennessee Valley Authority, providing needed secretarial work during World War Two. She returned to Rumson to help care for her family. She was then a civilian worker for the U.S. Army at Fort Monmouth for 45 years, retiring in 1982. She was a lifelong member of the Rumson Presbyterian Church, serving as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher as well as a member of their Senior Citizens' Group. After retiring, she gave over 7800 hours of volunteer work, both to Riverview Hospital (from 1974 to 2010) and at the Twin Lights Historic Site in The Highlands for fifteen years.

It is with tremendous sadness and regret that we announce the passing of Peter Thomas McHeffey, age 64.  He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.  He passed suddenly on July 12, 2018.

He is predeceased by his parents Murray and Mickey McHeffey; brother David McHeffey and nephew Keith McHeffey. 

He leaves behind his wife and best friend of 44 years Christine Ganz McHeffey; his son Peter Thomas McHeffey, Jr. and his daughters Meredith Anne Price and her husband Sean Price and  Caitlin Elizabeth Olesky.  Peter also leaves behind his grandchildren whom he loved so much -  his grandsons Cullan Sean Price, Aidan Joseph Olesky and granddaughters Isla Christine Price, Keirra Dawn Price and Elle Sophia Olesky due September 2018.  

Lara Danielle Scarantino, age 50 of Lincroft, NJ passed away on July 7^th, 2018. Lara was born to Gabriel and MaryAnn Troiano in 1968 and resided in Lincroft, NJ.

Lara is a graduate of St Joseph by the Sea High School in SI, NY and FIT in NY, NY where she earned a bachelor’s degree in fashion and design.   She had a career in garment sales in the fashion industry until she decided to become a full time mother. Lara is survived by 2 beautiful daughters Hailey & Ava along with her husband Bobby. She is also survived by her mother MaryAnn and three siblings Gary, Marissa, Corinne and her stepmother Karen.

Charles  Bernie Donnelly died peacefully surrounded by family on July 9, 2018. He loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest as an honest, hardworking, wonderful example to his children, grandchildren and friends. Charlie was married to his child hood sweetheart, Eleanor, who predeceased him in 2006.  They were married for 55 years and would have celebrated their 66 wedding anniversary this past 4^th of July.  He met the love of his life when they were 12 and 14 years old in New York City where they both grew up.   Charlie was friends with her brothers and Eleanor used to hang on to the back of his bike on her roller skates for a ride!   Charlie went to St. Monica’s Elementary school where he served as an altar server.  He was always chosen to do early Masses because he was an early riser and dependable at a young age.  He enlisted in the Marines as a teenager and served on the U.S.S. Midway in the Korean War.  He was injured in battle so was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star.  The Silver Star is the 3^rd highest personal decoration for valor in combat.  He was awarded these honors by President Harry S. Truman at the White House.