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Catherine F. Skahill
Catherine Skahill, Boca Raton, Fla., formerly of Wall, died Monday, Sept. 29 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
She was 79 years old.
Catherine F. Skahill was born in Newark to the late Michael and Margaret McKenna Murphy.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Matthew Murphy, and her sisters and brothers-in-law: Margaret and Warren Milford, and Teresa and Edwin Lyons.
Surviving are her husband, Jack Skahill, her children: Patricia Miller; Kathleen Ingram and her husband, William; James Skahill and his wife, Linda; Joseph Skahill and his wife, Patricia; Mary Roche and her husband, Robert. Also surviving is her sister, Rita Healy and her husband, Thomas, 14 grandchildren who she adored, and many nieces and nephews.
Reilly Funeral Home, Belmar, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Parkinson’s Research Foundation would be appreciated.
Robert H. McGuirk
Robert H. McGuirk, formerly of Lakewood, died on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the Meridian Subacute Rehabilitation Center in Wall Township.
After earning a bachelor of science degree from Rutgers University in Piscataway in 1951, Mr. McGuirk was employed as an urban planner with the State of New Jersey, working at the Edison Labs in Edison.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, from 1942 to 1946.
Mr. McGuirk was a former member of St. Mary’s of the Lake Roman Catholic Church in Lakewood. He was an amateur ham radio enthusiast.
Born and raised in West Orange, he briefly lived in Cape May before moving to Lakewood 16 years ago. His brothers, Douglas, George and William McGuirk, along with his sister, Alice Nucciarone, predeceased him.
Surviving are his wife, Kathleen, of 40 years, his sister, Margaret Cooney of Sea Girt, and 15 nieces and nephews.
Burial
took place in St. Catharine’s Cemetery. Arrangements were under the care of O’Brien Funeral Home in Wall Township.
Ruth Vail Conklin
Manasquan resident Ruth Vail Conklin died Thursday, Oct. 2 at Tenacre in Princeton.
She was 102 years old.
Mrs. Conklin was born in Rahway and lived for periods in Wall, Ocean Grove, Naples, Maine, and Philadelphia. She was a graduate of Neptune High School and attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, and the Art Students League in New York City.
While an art student, Mrs. Conklin modeled for the late W. H. D. Koerner, Interlaken, a renowned illustrator and painter of western art whose illustrations appeared frequently in the Saturday Evening Post. She was a professional artist for almost 75 years, working in oil, watercolor and pastels.
She traveled and painted widely throughout the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe, and her subjects varied widely from the canals of Venice to the Twin Lights overlooking Sandy Hook. She painted portraits, flowers, murals and landscapes, but was noted for her seascapes, most of which were of waves, beaches, rocks and fishermen in the Shore area.
Some of Mrs. Conklin’s murals can be seen at Allaire State Park and in the PNC Bank in Manasquan. Some of her pen and ink drawings of fish and wildlife appeared in the Asbury Park Press in the 1960s and 1970s and in Press publications: Shore Area Fish and The Shore Catch.
Mrs. Conklin became interested in antique dolls in the 1930s and acquired a huge collection over her lifetime. Her fascination with dolls led her to establish the Roadside Studio on Atlantic Avenue in Wall, where she began to make character dolls and soon began to market them nationwide. Prior to and during World War II, she employed 25 people to make and market the dolls.
Mrs. Conklin later established the Ruth Vail Studio in Sea Girt and partnered with her daughter, the late Lucile Geiser, in the Naples Gallery, an antique business and art studio in Naples, Maine. She taught art classes for children and adults and conducted art demonstrations for more than 40 years.
Mrs. Conklin was one of the founders of the Manasquan River Group of Artists, a member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Association of Women Artists, the American Artists Professional League, the Society of New Jersey Artists, the Guild of Creative Art, the Asbury Park Society of Fine Arts, and the Governor William Livingston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She was a member of the First Church of Christ the Scientist in Boston, Mass.
Three husbands predeceased her: Paul Geiser, John C. W. Bird and Stanley Conklin.
Surviving are her son, John H. Geiser; her stepson, Marshall Conklin; and her grandchildren: Diane Geiser of Naples, Maine; Joyce Schwaller of Dallas, Texas; and George Geiser of Wall.
She is also survived by two great-grandsons: Paul Geiser Stanford and David Geiser Stanford, both of Naples, Maine.
A private funeral service will be held for family members only.
Mary Lewis Skidmore
Mary Lewis Skidmore, of Point Pleasant, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 18 at Ocean Medical Center.
Mary Skidmore has been an active force within the Point Pleasant community for many years, impacting and touching the lives of generations of people. She worked as a secretary in the Point Pleasant school system for over 40 years. For many years, Mary and her husband, Bill, were involved in the student exchange program.
Mary’s passions were the Rotary Club of Point Pleasant, where she was once President and Rotarian of the Year, and the Rotary District 7500 Gift of Life Program. Both of which she poured her heart and soul into. She was a “Paul Harris Fellow” and in 2011 was bestowed with the “Michael’s Heart Award” by the Gift of Life.
She was actively involved [and President] of the NJ Association of Educational Office Professionals [NJAEOP].
On two occasions Mary was the President of the B.P.O. Elks Women's Auxiliary. She was continually helping people and organizations and giving to others whenever possible and was recently awarded the Lifetime Leadership Award by the Point Pleasant Chamber of Commerce.
She was born in Reidsville, N.C., to the late Lee & Fannie Lewis, she had lived in Washington, D.C., and has resided in Point Pleasant for fifty-seven years.
Her beloved husband, William, predeceased her in 2003.
Mary is survived by her son, Lee; his wife, Kim; and her granddaughter, Kellie. She also leaves behind her brother, Paul, and two sisters, Peggy and Esther. Mostly, she leaves behind a legacy of giving to others and friendships built on decades of caring and concern.
Mary made an impact on all that she met. She will be missed by many.
Pable Evertz Funeral Home of Point Pleasant was in charge of arrangements. Entombment was in Saint Catharine cemetery Mausoleum, Sea Girt.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Rotary District 7500, Gift of Life Foundation, PO Box 805, Toms River, NJ 08754.
Bette Ann Kirchner Storch
Bette Ann Kirchner Storch “Betsy”, of Brick, formerly of Wall, with friends and family in the Point Pleasant area, has gone to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at Community Medical Center with her family by her side. She was 68.
Betsy was prematurely taken from her family and friends after a swift battle with ovarian cancer.
A lifelong resident of the Jersey Shore, Betsy was raised in Brielle and Sea Girt, before settling in Brick Township to raise her family.
She was a member of the Church of St. Uriel the Archangel, Sea Girt.
Betsy was a waitress for 26 years at the Off Shore Inn, Point Pleasant Beach. After raising her four children, Betsy returned to school to pursue a career in the healing arts, as a registered nurse. Following completion, cum laude, of her nursing degree in 1993 from Ocean County College, Betsy specialized as a certified oncology nurse, certified diabetes educator and case manager. Most recently, Betsy instructed students in the Ocean County College nursing program.
Betsy had a generous spirit and open heart. She assisted those in need through community outreach and education programs. Betsy enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of the same bridge club for 36 years.
Family, friends, colleagues and patients alike felt the benefit of her warm smile and encouraging words. Betsy’s dedication and commitment to helping others is best evidenced through her lifelong friendships and professional relationships.
Betsy was predeceased by her parents Robert and Anne Kirchner.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Robert Storch of Brick; and children James and Dana Storch of San Angelo, Texas; Nancy and Richard Ayers of Mooresville, N.C.; Karen and Guy Jackson of Brick and Mark and Danielle Storch of Brick; as well as sister Janet Triolo and husband Sandy of Brick; and brother-in-law Joseph Storch and wife Ann of Williamstown. Betsy was also the adored “Mom Mom” of nine grandchildren Shaina, Alex, Kristen, Rachel, Nicholas, Noah, Daniel, Ava and Maya, as well as loving aunt to Scott, Daniel, Erick and Amy.
Arrangements were under the direction of Orender Family Home for Funerals, in Manasquan.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Diabetes Association PO Box 11454 Alexandria, VA 22312 or Teal Ribbon Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Inc., PO Box 83015, Gaithersburg, MD 20883.
Lonna M. Doyle
Lonna M. Doyle, 60, of Brick, a longtime teacher in Point Pleasant, died peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 14.
Lonna was born in Newark, moving with the Doyle family in 1957 to Brick Township where she lived all of her adult life. Lonna was an educator. She received a bachelor of arts from Montclair State University and a masters in education from Georgian Court University. She devoted herself to the students first at St. Veronica’s School, Howell and then for over 28 years as a mathematics teacher at Point Pleasant Borough High School. There she guided the Keyettes Club and coached the girls’ bowling team. Upon her retirement in 2008 she was honored by her colleagues and students alike for her dedication and devotion to them.
Lonna had a passion for politics. She was a county committeewoman from Brick for over 40 years. She was president of the Brick Township Democratic Club. She sat on the Brick Township Planning Board and the Brick Township Shade Tree Commission. This year she was honored to be selected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. She also had a love of genealogy. She explored her father’s Irish roots and her mother’s Italian roots to the earliest possible generation. She gladly shared her knowledge by helping others in their research.
Lonna was predeceased by her parents, John L. Doyle and Sarah J. Doyle.
She is survived by her five siblings, John Paul Doyle, Gary Doyle [Cheryle], Linda Gialanella, Laurie Doyle [William Coberly] and Luann New [Paul].
She was adored by her nieces and nephews Sean Doyle, Jennifer Kitchen, Heather Doyle, Godson Kirk Gialanella, Mark Gialanella, Timothy Doyle, Zachary Doyle, Travis New, Tessa Coberly, Emily Doyle, Allison New and Var Coberly. Colonial Funeral Home, Brick, was in charge of arrangements.
Burial
was in St. Anne Cemetery, Wall Township.
Frank Florio
Frank M. Florio, 54, of Point Pleasant with family in Manasquan, died suddenly on Thursday, Oct. 11 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune.
Frank resided in Point Pleasant for over 30 years. Frank was raised in Brielle and was a 1977 Manasquan High School graduate. Frankie grew up loving fishing his whole life. His fishing passion began aboard the “BARVIC” working as a mate and later he became captain of that vessel for many years. Frankie was also the captain of the commercial vessel “Barbara Sue”.
Most recently Frankie enjoyed fishing aboard “The Golden Touch”. For the past 24 years Frankie worked for United Parcel Service.
Frank was predeceased by his father, Victor Florio, in 2006 and his mother-in-law, Connie Durkin, in 2011.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Sharon Durkin Florio; his children, Beth and her husband Michael Carabellese, Caitlin Florio, Tim Herget of Golden, Colo., Michael and Chantelle Herget and their three children of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and his mother, Barbara Mueller Florio of Lakewood and Sebastian, Fla. He is also survived by his sister and brothers and their families, Susan and Kevin Thompson of Manasquan, Dan and Caryl of Middletown, Donald and Teresa of Bricktown, and John and Amy of Denville. He also leaves behind his beloved dog, Bella.
Frank was a wonderful, caring, loving and devoted husband and father. His easy smile and contagious laughter warmed the hearts of everyone he met. He was the only one who thought getting up before the sun was fun, and the last few fish in the sea can swim with no fear.
O'Brien Funeral Home, 505 Burnt Tavern Road, Brick, was in charge of arrangements. Interment
will be private.
In lieu of flowers, Donations may be made to Safe Harbor Lab Rescue, 601 16th St. #C-322, Golden, CO 80405.
