Obituaries

Kathleen T. Gahn, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and stepmother, entered the near presence of God on May 5, 2024, at the age of 84, after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. 

Born and raised in Geneva, New York, Kathleen's life was marked by adventure, faith and spirit. She was a true lover of nature, with a special affinity for birds. Until the pandemic, she actively participated in church activities and was a member of the Monmouth Civic Chorus and her Tower Hill Church choir where she was a member for 36 years. It was at the Monmouth Boat Club where she met her husband, Donald of Rumson, NJ, with whom she shared 28 years of marriage.

Anne Beekman Cornwell Smith

October 1938 to April 2024

Anne Beekman Cornwell Smith was born in 1938, raised in Little Silver New Jersey and graduated from Red Bank High School in 1957.

She attended Goucher College and graduated from Katharine Gibbs School in 1960. 

While Anne told everyone her first job was catching crabs in the Shrewsbury River off Point Road in Little Silver and selling them to her neighbors, she first officially worked at the Beekman Orchard in Middletown.  From there she was the assistant to the comptroller at the Garden State Parkway, retiring in 2003.

Clyde L. MacKenzie Jr., of Fair Haven, NJ passed away peacefully on April 29, 2024. He was 92 years old.

Clyde was born June 4th, 1931 on Martha’s Vineyard, MA to Clyde L. MacKenzie and Ruth Guilford MacKenzie. Clyde grew up on Martha’s Vineyard, where he graduated from high school. He was on the basketball team and enjoyed “The Glory Years” of Vineyard school basketball. Clyde worked on farms and enjoyed spending time with his family and beloved dog, a Scottish Terrier mix named Shorty. He worked his way through college harvesting shellfish on Martha’s Vineyard.

Sean Townshend Black, 32, of West Long Branch, passed away on Sunday, April 21, 2024 from Cardio-Renal Syndrome, a complication of his End-Stage Renal Disease, after an 18-year struggle with Type 1 Diabetes, depression and drug addiction.

Despite his ongoing health battles, he was consistent with his love for the things about which he was passionate. He was a tall, magnificent hugger who loved all things historic, reading, debating politics, animals, mini golf, the beach, his nieces and nephews, and having fun with his entire extended family, particularly during our annual trips to LBI. Sean was a brave person who cared deeply about human rights, passionately defended his principles, and stood up for people in need.

Elaine Inman Pope passed away peacefully on April 18, 2024, in Red Bank, NJ. She was 97 years old. Elaine was born on Palm Sunday, April 10, 1927, in Barnegat, NJ, the only child of George A. and Olive Cranmer Inman. A life-long resident of New Jersey, she lived in Elberon, Ventnor (a suburb of Atlantic City), Red Bank, Fair Haven, and Little Silver.

A 1945 graduate of Red Bank High School, Elaine graduated Berkeley Secretarial School in New York City, eventually working in the Employee Relations Department for Esso in New York, commuting by train from Fair Haven. She met her future husband, Henry A. Pope, Jr., on this commute. They married in February 1952, and honeymooned in Bermuda – flying there and returning via ship on the Queen of Bermuda. This spawned a life-long love of travel, especially by sea.

The world lost one of its most dedicated laughers with the passing of Douglas Arthur Yorke, Jr on April 11th. He died peacefully surrounded by his beloved family while in the outstanding care of the trauma team at Jersey Shore Medical Center.

Doug was born to Joanne and Doug Yorke on August 20, 1951 and grew up in Rumson, where he would later raise his three children. His childhood days were spent boating, skiing, and scheming with his many friends, establishing a passion for athletics and hijinks that would endure his whole life.

Jan A. Norton, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and uncle, passed away on April 9th 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Warsaw, Poland shortly before World War II. His family survived the war, and after a decade of being separated, were reunited by his father in Canada. 

 "...and off I go!!" 

Donald Barnes, age 81, of Tinton Falls, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at Riverview Medical Center. Raised in Maplewood, he lived in Oceanport prior to moving to Tinton Falls four years ago. Donald was a Vietnam veteran who served in the United States Army during the war. He was a Pension Actuary who last served as Vice President of the Pension Boards at United Church of Christ. Donald was also an active member of The Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury. He volunteered for the Jaycees and Habitat Restore.

Frances Pascale Sykes, Mother, Wife, Founder and CEO of The Pascale Sykes Foundation, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2024 surrounded by her loved ones.

Fran was born in Newport News, Virginia, and graduated from Rumson Fair Haven High School in 1958. She resided in Newport News, Virginia, Merion, PA, Newport, Rhode Island, Pittsburgh, PA.; Center Harbor, NH (summer). She finally settled in Rumson, NJ and spent her summers in Oquossoc, Maine.