Obituaries

Jacqueline Travers Patterson passed on Sunday, January 21, 2018, after a long battle with cancer.  She was a fighter and battled 10 years with a smile on her face.  She refused to give up until she had no choice left.  She will be dearly missed for her unending love, compassion, positivity, and joie de vivre’.  

She was predeceased by her sons, Patrick and twins Robert and David, her only granddaughter Julia, her son in law Stephen, her father Jerome Travers, mother Marie Labrecque Travers, and her sisters Marie Travers Paine and Jeraldine Travers.

Barbara “Bobbie” Holbrook Miltenberger, 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 13th. She was surrounded by her loving family at her home in Fair Haven. Bobbie was a lifelong resident of the Two River area. She attended Rumson Country Day School and Nightingale Bamford in NYC. She then attended Westover Preparatory School in Middlebury, CT and later graduated from Briarcliff Jr. College in Briarcliff, NY. She was member of All Saints and St. George’s Episcopal Church, a lifelong member of Sea Bright Beach Club and a proud member of Daughters of the Cincinnati.

Andrew W. Thompson (“Drew”) passed away on Friday, January 12, at Monmouth Medical Center. He was 60 years young. Drew was everything and more that you wanted in a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. He was a Free Mason, Ducks Unlimited member, Seabright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club member, and participated in the National Foreign Trade Council.

Growing-up in Fair Haven, he found peace, comfort, and happiness by the ocean, in the wetlands, and at any venue that combined Tim McLoone’s music with a little bit of trouble. He stood proudly next to teammates on the Rumson Fair Haven gridiron gang, as well as tennis and gymnastics teams. With his high level of expertise, you never wanted to go after him on the trampoline or diving board. He had a passion for the untracked trail; this found him taking his dog to the fields for a hunting trip or a horse to the mountains for a camping expedition. Whether in the mountains or in the kitchen, you could count on a 5-star gourmet meal and good company. When it came time to celebrate the holidays, family and friends requested Drew as “the carver”.

Margaret A. Hewitt, age 96, passed away on Saturday, January 6th at the Sunrise Assisted Living, Lincroft.  Margaret had lived in Toms River for seven years prior to moving to Sunrise.

Margaret was pre-deceased by her husband Richard in September, 1991.  She is survived by two sons, Richard and wife Luki of Penobscot, ME and Robert and wife Catherine of Lincroft; two grandchildren Jason and Kristen and one great-grandchild Harper.

All arrangements are private.  The Thompson Memorial Home, Red  Bank was entrusted with her care.

Michael Czarnecki, 74 of Brick, formerly of Atlantic Highlands and Highlands, passed away suddenly on January 5, 2018.  He retired from Honeywell in 2000 and thoroughly enjoyed every day of his retirement.  Most mornings he could be found on the tennis court and most afternoons he would be at the dog park with his four-legged buddy.   

He was a loving husband and an amazing father who would do anything he could for his family.  One of his favorite traditions was making pierogies for the family for the holidays.  He tried to teach his children and grandchildren the secret family recipe but so far none has taken on the challenge. 

Nancy B Keogh, 70, of Little Silver, NJ passed away peacefully on Tuesday December 27, 2017, after a long illness.

Nancy was born in Elizabeth, NJ in 1947 and moved to the Two River area as a child, where she resided for over 65 years.  She studied at Monmouth and at Brookdale Colleges, graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts.  She worked for many years as a dental and medical office assistant, most recently for Dr. Kenneth Grossman in Little Silver until her retirement in 2012.  

Patricia L. Biddle, a feisty octogenarian, formerly of Little Silver, passed away peacefully at Overlook Medical Center in Summit on December 25, 2017.  Born in Newark, N.J., Pat resided in the greater Red Bank area for over 60 years before moving to Chatham to live with her daughter in 2016.  Pat, also known as Trisha and The Big T to those that loved her, was employed as the Office Manager at Little Silver Electric for 25 years.  In her spare time, she enjoyed travelling, reading, movies and going to Atlantic City to lose $20 on the slots.  She cherished living down the shore and enjoyed nothing more than walking the boardwalk in Ocean Grove, being at Sandy Hook to watch the sunset or playing the boardwalk games at Point Pleasant.  She was a true character who was fiercely independent and she will be missed beyond what words can express.

Violete Ramalho Cavadas, 89, loving widow of Camilo N. Cavadas, of Middletown, NJ, passed away peacefully at Riverview Hospital in Red Bank, NJ on Thursday, December 14, 2017 surrounded by her loving family.

Mrs. Cavadas was born in Camarneira, Portugal and emigrated to the U.S. with her baby daughter to join her husband in 1950. She raised her family both in the Ironbound and North Newark area, and subsequently moved to Middletown in 1969.

Little Silver – Leci (McAbee) Croker, 79 passed away Sunday December 10, 2017 at Sunnyside Manor in Wall, New Jersey. 

Leci was born in Anderson County, South Carolina, to the late Luther and Alene McAbee. She was predeceased by her husband, the love of her life, Ben Croker Sr. Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law Laney and Baden Chace, Little Silver, NJ and son and daughter-in-law Ben Croker Jr. and Gena Walter, Greensboro, North Carolina and three grandchildren Hailey and Charlsea Chace and Trey Croker.

Neil Jerome Fitzpatrick, age 81, of Monroe Township, NJ, formerly of Matawan, NJ, passed peacefully into God’s arms on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. 

Neil was born on May 21, 1936 in Nutley, NJ.  He was the youngest son of the late William G. and Dorothea Heim Fitzpatrick.  He attended St. Joseph School in Keyport, NJ and graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, NJ in 1953.  Neil earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Michael’s College in Winooski, VT in 1958 and was awarded a Certificate of Teaching from Kean University in Union, NJ.  For 14 years during his academic career Neil studied piano under many inspiring instructors, including Dr. Richard Stohr while in attendance at St. Michael’s College.