Obituaries

Verna Augusta Matthews, of Red Bank, New Jersey, passed peacefully away on October 25, 2020. Verna was born in Neptune, New Jersey, on December 19, 1944.

Verna was raised in South Belmar, New Jersey, where she attended grammar and high school at the Church of Saint Rose, Belmar. Growing up, you could find Verna on any spring, summer, or fall day at her beloved 19th Avenue beach with her friends listening to Elvis, the Everly Bros., and so on, and talking about school and boys. 

Verna married Clifford Tolmie and moved to Toms River, New Jersey. While raising their children, Verna worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for a private family business.

Ronald Cleon Anderson, 83, of Hazlet was called home to the Lord on Monday, October 26^th at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank. He was born and raised in Newark, NJ. He quit school at 16 to work for his father’s vending machine company in order to take care of his siblings after the passing of his mother. He lived in Paxton, Georgia for a while before moving to Red Bank to raise his own family.

Ron was a foreman at Atlantic Glass Company in Red Bank where he worked as a glazer for 45 years. He enjoyed fishing, boating, playing poker and bingo.

He was predeceased by his father Cleon Pervis Anderson and mother Anna Rose (Lemmons) Anderson; his wife Veronica; his sister Shirley Hullings and brothers Roger and Richard Anderson.

Howard Robert (“Bob”) Westerman passed away peacefully on 19 October 2020. Born 17 February 1926 in Jersey City, NJ, Robert was the son of Rita and Edward Westerman, and the devoted husband of Paula Ann Westerman, who survives him. Father of Jeff Westerman (married to Theresa Westerman) of Moreau, NY, and Amy Westerman of Exton PA, he also leaves one grandson and five great-grandchildren. Bob and Paula lived in Little Silver, NJ between 1970-2017, then in 2018 they happily moved to The Atrium in Red Bank, NJ.

An only child, Robert graduated in 1942 from Snyder High School in Jersey City. From there he attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City for one year, before proudly joining the US Navy in 1943. He was stationed in Taklambi, New Guinea, serving in the PT Boat squadrons.

Mimi Cittadino passed away peacefully on 10/21/20. She grew up in Little Silver and graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School. Mimi lived the majority of her life in Eatontown with her husband and daughters and was a proud employee of Wegmans in Ocean for the past 15 years. 

Mimi was a beloved mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend to many. With a natural gift of listening and compassion, many sought out Mimi for advice. She had a passion for food and cooking, music (U2), animals, and her family. She was a fun, relaxed, easy going, and spiritual woman who could make her presence known just by walking in a room. 

Howard L. Mason died Monday, October 2nd at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank.  He was raised in Springfield, N.J. graduating from Jonathan Dayton Regional High School and Columbia Univ. NYC with a Master’s degree.  He pursued a career as a Member of Technical Staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories, beginning at Murray Hill, NJ and moving with his department to the AT&T facility in Holmdel, retiring after 30 years of service.  His motto became "Retirement is a full-time job.".  Howard was a past member of the United Methodist Church in Springfield and Little Silver, and for many years, the Tower Hill Presbyterian Church of Red Bank, always giving faithfully of his time and talents. 

Howard loved the sea, and spent many enjoyable days swimming, boogie boarding or just relaxing.  He was a talented musician, playing the piano and organ by ear.  He loved listening to barbershop harmony and was a member of the Monmouth County Theater Organ Society.  Many enjoyable outings were spent " birding" as a member of the Monmouth County Audubon and also with the NJ Audubon. 

Diane B. Vigilante, 88, died peacefully at home on Oct. 12. Born in 1932 in Chicago, Diane was a child of the Great Depression and World War II. Her memories of the tough 30’s included many relatives coming to Chicago seeking work. During the war, she kept a Victory Garden to help feed the family. Her parents, George Berg and Fannie (Jerina) Berg, moved west to Colorado Springs after the war where, after high school, Diane worked for Farmers Insurance as a secretary. She met her future husband, Frank, then in the Army, at a Camp Carson dance. Their marriage produced three children, Patricia, Frank and John.  

William Charles Geroni entered into eternal rest on October 8, 2020. He was born in Long Branch, NJ, on December 31, 1920, and grew up in Red Bank. He was a graduate of Red Bank High School, where he earned nine varsity letters; three in football, baseball and basketball. In 2018 he was inducted into the Red Bank High School Sports Hall of Fame. He attended Muhlenberg and Stroudsburg College where he played football. World War II cut short his career. He served in the Army Air Corps as a Sergeant.   After the war Bill worked for the US Postal Service for thirty-eight years.

James Christopher Brady, 83, of Little Silver, NJ passed away on Friday, October 9, 2020. Jim was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland.  After residencies in South Africa and Australia and a return to Ireland; Jim moved to the US in 1969 and settled in the Red Bank area soon afterwards. It was here that Jim and his ex-wife, Carmel raised their five sons.  

Jim was a self-employed mason in the Red Bank and Little Silver area for almost 40 years, specializing in chimneys and craftsman masonry.  Jim relished having a few beers with friends and co-workers after a long, hard day’s work building chimneys.  He, also, enjoyed reading and listening to classical music.  He returned to Ireland, regularly, to spend time with his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews and to, otherwise, enjoy the craic in Dublin. 

Margaret Joan Blake passed away on October 7, 2020. Joan was born in New York, lived in Fair Haven, NJ most of her adult life and then moved to West Long Branch.

She was predeceased by her loving husband Hugh. She is survived by her 2 sons, William and his wife Leslie and James and his wife Jill. She has 4 grandchildren, Justin, Samantha, Maggie and Jeffrey and her new great grandson, Benjamin.

The Rev. Geoffrey Collis, an Episcopal priest of the Diocese of New Jersey, entered eternal rest on October 2, 2020. He was born in Red Bank and raised in Rumson, graduating from RFHRHS in 1968. He earned his B.S. in Business Administration at Rider University in 1972 and his Master of Divinity from General Theological Seminary, NYC, in 1976 and was ordained that same year. His entire ministry was served in the Diocese of New Jersey. His first call was a Curate at Christ Church, Toms River, where he became Priest-in-Charge in 1979 until he was called as Rector of St. James’ Church, Long Branch, where he served for seventeen years. After leaving Long Branch, he served, in various positions, at Christ Church, Somers Point; St. Andrews, New Providence; St. Peter’s, Barnegat Light; Trinity Church, Cranford; St. David’s, Cranbury; and Church of the Epiphany, Ventnor.