Obituaries

Douglas McCrum, 92, of Tinton Falls, passed away on Tuesday, October 1, 2019. Born in Queens, NY, he resided in Shrewsbury for 50 years before moving to Tinton Falls.

Douglas was a physical education teacher and began his career at Rumson Country Day School where he taught for four years. He moved on to Shrewsbury Boro Elementary School, where he became the first Physical Education Teacher at that school. He remained there for 36 years and was a beloved teacher who touched many lives. He was affectionately known by all as “Mr. Mac”. 

His teaching abilities were recognized and in 1986 he was awarded the Annual Governor’s Teachers Recognition Program Award after 32 years of exemplary teaching and service.

Douglas served his Country in the US Navy and was a WWII Veteran. He was a Signalman on the US Aircraft Carrier – USS Randolph. Upon completion of his service, he attended and received his Bachelors Degree in Physical Education from Springfield College and continued on to Rutgers University where he received his Masters Degree in Education.

Ernest E. Trunzo (Ernie), of Red Bank, passed on September 25^th, 2019 with his family by his side. Ernie was born and raised in Red Bank, NJ. He resided in River Plaza for the past 42 years.

Eileen (Feistel) Munning, of Middletown, NJ, 93, died peacefully on September 22 at Brighton Gardens Assisted Living, surrounded by her loving family. She was born September 7, 1926, the daughter of the late Francis and Mary Anne Feistel. Eileen attended Red Bank Catholic High School, where she met the love of her life, Phil Munning, whom she married in 1945. Eileen was a lifelong communicant of St. James RC Church in Red Bank, and a former member of Sodality. She enjoyed volunteering as a group leader for St. James elementary school girls in Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Among Eileen’s favorite pastimes were traveling with Phil, knitting, and bridge. After raising her five children, she graduated from Kean University, and worked as a reading tutor in local elementary schools.

Angelina (nee Verange) Ferraro age 89, of Middletown passed away peacefully on Friday, September 20th, 2019.

Angelina loved being a mother and grandmother. Her home was always open to whomever passed through and everyone was welcomed as family. There was always room at her table for one more. She was a hairdresser for many years and loved what she did. She enjoyed cooking, baking and was very crafty. Most importantly, Angelina had a special way to lighten up any room with her warm heart and loving smile.

Edward F. Kovanic, of Red Bank, passed away peacefully in his home at The Atrium in the early morning of September 19, 2019. A Rumson resident for 40 years, Ed previously resided in Caldwell NJ and Livingston NJ. Ed predeceased by his loving wife, Jane H. Kovanic, whom he has sorely missed since her passing in 2013.

 Born in 1930, Ed spent his youth in Wilmington, Delaware.  After graduating from the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania in 1952, Ed served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy on the USS Salerno Bay (CVE-110) and USS Missouri (BB-63) at the end of the Korean War.  After his naval service, Ed began his career in electrical engineering with Westinghouse.  Ed then went on to earn a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from New York University after which he joined Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, N.J.  While at Bell Labs, Ed studied for a doctoral degree at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn where he also served as a member of the teaching staff.  Following formation of Project Mallard in late 1967 by then-Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, Ed became Chief, Mission Support Division, Joint Engineering Agency at Fort Monmouth.  There, Ed led efforts for the U.S. Army Communications & Electronics Command to design and implement a Cold-War era strategic communications network connecting the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.  In the early 1970s, Ed was a fellow at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and was the first U.S. Army representative to do so. Ed went on to become Division Chief, Defense Systems Information Agency at Fort Monmouth.

Patience H. Martin “Pat”, 80, passed away on September 7th surrounded by her five loving children.  She was born in Brooklyn, NY, and at a young age moved to Rumson, NJ where she lived most of her life.  She spent a fair amount of time in Manchester, VT, skiing with her family and retired to Vero Beach, FL with her husband, Donal. After Vero Beach, she returned to Rumson, NJ “home” for her final journey.

She graduated from Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School as valedictorian, attended Dickinson College in PA and studied Shakespeare at Brookdale College, NJ.  Pat was a successful business owner and engaged in volunteer work for most of her adult life.  She was proud of her work at the Junior League of Monmouth County which resulted in helping to create Monmouth Arts, a 501c3 County Art Advocacy organization.  She also enjoyed her volunteer work for Sandy Hook, the SSYC, Hospice-Vero Beach and as a community ambassador for the Regency. She loved to golf, read, bird-watch, take her children and grand-children to Broadway plays in NYC, and travel. She also played a smart game of bridge resulting in the Life-Time  Bronze achievement award.  

Anne Wroblewski Calabro, 64, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, surrounded by loved ones at Riverview Medical Center.  Born in Topeka, KS, to the late Albin John Wroblewski and Helen Elizabeth Wroblewski, Anne was raised in a military family stationed at numerous U.S. Air Force bases throughout the world.  Throughout Anne’s childhood, the Wroblewski Family lived in various cities, including Myrtle Beach, SC, Memphis, MI, Clark Air Force Base, Mabalacat, Phillipines, Beale Air Force Base, Yuba County, CA, and Oscoda, MI.

After graduating from Oscoda High School in Michigan in 1973, Anne attended Michigan State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1978.  After starting her nursing career at Sparrow Hospital in East Lansing, MI. Anne was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and completed her officer training at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. She was then stationed at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI, where she served as an ICU nurse and met her future husband, Dr. Joseph J. Calabro III.

Lucia Badt (Shrewsbury, formerly Morristown) 

Lucia Margherita Giacomini Badt, 81, passed away on August 28th at the Brandywine Sycamore in Shrewsbury.

Born in Udine, in the Fruilian region of Italy, Lucia grew up in the small village of Tomba di Mereto, daughter of Alfonsina and Domenico Giacomini.  She was known for her vivacity, humor and wit, her sense of style, her love of friends, her sharp intelligence and her radiant beauty.  In 1961, while on a break from her work as a secretary, she met the love of her life, Milton Badt, Jr. in a café in Piazza Liberta.  As Milton would often say, “I lit her cigarette and we have been on fire ever since.”  Lucia and Milton married, and in the first years, lived in Italy and Germany, eventually moving to the United States, where they settled in northern New Jersey, raising their three children in Parsippany.

You were mine for a moment in time and though you left before your time, your memory will live on forever to those of us you have left behind.  One day our souls will join together again until the end of time.

Jonathan James Fontanetta, 2 mos, of Red Bank, passed away on September 7, 2019.  He was a beloved son, grandson, nephew and cousin.  Jonathan is survived by his adoring parents Michael R. Fontanetta and Gina M. Fontanetta; brothers Michael V. Fontanetta (11) and Christian J. Fontanetta (4); grandparents Vincent J. Soviero and Elaine M. Soviero; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.  He will be loved and remembered eternally in our hearts and in our minds.

Selina Ann Ferriso (the bear), 54, of Holmdel, passed away on September 10, 2019.  Selina was born in Queens, NY, to Robert and Teresa Ferriso.  She was a graduate of DeVry University and was an Auditor and Analyst for Hackensack Meridian Health in Tinton Falls.

She enjoyed her vacations in the sun with drink in hand and toes in the sand.

Selina is predeceased by her parents.  She is survived by her partner of thirty years Mark Bates of Holmdel; her son Glenn Ferriso of Hazlet; her brother Michael Ferriso and his partner Thomas Brazil of  CA; her sister Lisa Ferriso of Middletown; her nephews Jake and Luke Bruno; her grandnephew Chase Bruno; her many friends  and her dog Petey.

She was loved by many and will be dearly missed.