Obituaries

George H Steelman, 68, passed away Saturday September 30, 2017 at his home surrounded by family. He was born June 25th in Red Bank to Joseph and Marian (Spicer) Steelman. Dale McLaughlin became his bride June 19th 1971 and together they had 2 children Jill and Michael. George loved working with his hands and sharing jokes and stories with family and friends. Some of his favorite times were spent out with nature hunting, fishing and gardening. George was a lifetime member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 with 40+years. He was a Past Master of the Abacus Lodge/Navesink Lodge #9 F&AM, a member of the Bayshore Saltwater Flyrodders, Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club, volunteer firefighter in Middletown, and active with Boy Scouts Troop #67.

John R. Choma Jr, 35 of Fair Haven, passed away on September 28, 2017.  He was born in Red Bank to John R. Choma Sr. and Lorraine K. Choma.  John was a lifelong resident of Fair Haven.  He was employed by the Middletown Township Board of Education in the maintenance department.   John was a member of the NRA in Washington, DC.

William (Bill) Morrow Weiant, 78, of Middletown, NJ, died after a short illness on September 24, 2017.

He was born to the late Monroe and Lois Weiant, in Perth Amboy, NJ. Bill attended Metuchen High School, and then received a BA from Amherst College in 1960 and an M.B.A. from NYU in 1964. His military service was with the United States Air Force.

Lawrence W. Roberts (Larry), age 78 of Little Silver, NJ, passed away early Sunday morning, Sept. 24, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center surrounded by loving family members.  

Larry was born and raised in Portage, Wisconsin.  He was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, with a Bachelors’ degree in Business Administration. He served in the U.S. Army, owned an insurance agency and worked for 3M as a sales/marketing representative. In 1967 he joined Merrill Lynch in the Fort Wayne, Indiana office where he became one of the top 50 financial consultants in the firm.  In 1973 he was approved for management and subsequently managed branch office complexes in Milwaukee, WI, Saginaw, MI, Rochester, NY and Red Bank, NJ.  He was honored on several occasions as one of Merrill Lynch’s top managers.  In New York City he held various executive positions to include National Institutional Sales Manager, Director of Field Operations/Branch Services and National Service Director. He retired from Merrill Lynch in 2001.

Joan Mary Sanders died September 24, 2017 after a 4-year battle with cancer.  Joan was born in Syracuse, NY.  She grew up in Rumson, NJ with her parents Robert and Joan Sanders (deceased) and later lived in Ocean Grove, NJ until 2013.  For the past 4 years she resided in Rumson, NJ and Woodbine and Ellicott City, MD. 

Joan is survived by her 5 brothers and sisters, Mary Sanders Jones, Michael Joseph Sanders, Catherine Hibbert, Maura Sanders, and Robert J. Sanders III, and his wife Joan Throckmorton Sanders, 2 brothers-in-law, David Jones and Daniel Hibbert, and 6 nieces and nephews, Colleen Hibbert-Kapler, Caitrin Jones Davis, Norah Jones, Mary Catherine Hibbert, Ryan Gossiaux, and Maggie Gossiaux.

Christopher Charles Rumph was born on August 1, 1952 and passed away peacefully on September 22, 2017. Chris was a humble, hilarious, and giving man.  He left the physical world in the comfort of his own home surrounded by his wife and children after a courageous fight against cancer over the last four years.

Chris grew up in Middletown, NJ amongst his four siblings, Robin, Carolyn, Benny, and Kim.  Chris married his high school sweetheart, Andrea (Dede) Fischette.  They were married for 44 blissful years. Dede has always been a saint for putting up with his wild side.  He captured her attention with his charming demeanor and devilish blue eyes.  They raised five unique children who are successful in their own right.  Amanda and son in law, Paul McGrade, Andrew, Christopher and daughter in law Caitlin, Jonathan, and Abigail continue to spread his light to the world.  Chris was blessed with five grandchildren, Peter, Aubrey, and Addison McGrade, Isla and Evie Rumph, whom he taught to appreciate nature, dessert, and the little things in life.

Carlotta (Carly) Niles Emmons passed away peacefully on September 19, 2017, at the age of 84.  She was born January 27, 1933, in Red Bank, NJ.  Carly was raised in Shrewsbury, attended RBR, RFH, and Baldwin Boarding School.  The daughter of Jonathan H. and Carlotta R. Niles, Carly was a lifelong resident of the Jersey Shore.  Her passion for the ocean growing up as a member of Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club, for which she swam on the swim team, was reflective of her passion for life.  She often rode her bike from Shrewsbury to Monmouth Beach to see her grandfather before her swim in the ocean. 

Joseph R. Testa, Age 48, of Middletown, passed away on September 15, 2017.  Joseph was born in Brooklyn, NY to Joseph R. Testa, Sr. and Josephine Burrello Furiato.  He was a lifelong Middletown resident.  

Joseph was a Certified Medical Tech and worked for Dr. Rao Gouranti in Little Silver.  He was also a Martial Arts Instructor and a personal trainer. 

Richard Dale Brock of Fair Haven, N.J. died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on September 13, 2017 after a brief, and difficult, battle with cancer.  He was 70 years old.  Richard is survived by his devoted wife of 45 years, Andrea Kerbs Brock, and their daughter, Alexis Jeanne Brock of New York City.  

He is also survived by his brothers, Howard Brock, Jr. and Stanley Bruce Brock, as well as members of the Kerbs family, and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

Barbara M. Anderson, 83 of Shrewsbury, NJ   , passed away on September 8, 2017.  Bebe was born to Arthur and Dorothy McClure in Syracuse, NY.  She was a 57 year member of the Tower Hill Presbyterian Church of Red Bank. Bebe was an avid bridge player, golfer and a devoted New York Yankees fan. Bebe also attended Mt. Holyoke College. She loved traveling and visited over eighty countries in her life.