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Obituaries from 2002
LESTER F. RICE JR., 67, of Ocean died March 2 at his winter residence in Fort Myers, Fla. Born in Spring Lake Heights, he lived in West Long Branch before moving to Ocean in 2001. He was a manager for New Jersey Natural Gas Co., Wall, for 45 years, retiring in 1996. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. His memberships included the Long Branch Exchange Club, the Old Guard of Long Branch Chapter No. 15 and the Gas Light Club of New Jersey. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Dolores "Dolly" Neylon Rice; his son and daughter-in-law, James A. and Erin Rice of Wall; his daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Dr. Terry Doherty of East Lyme, Conn.; two brothers, Weston Rice and William Rice, both of Spring Lake Heights; two sisters, Norma West of West Long Branch and Nancy Sherman of Manasquan; and five grandchildren. A funeral service was held at Oakhurst United Methodist Church. Memorial donations may be made to Ronald McDonald House, 131 Bath Ave., Long Branch 07740.
IRENE E. GERONI, 69, a lifelong resident of Red Bank, died March 4 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. She was an assembler at the former Bendix Company, Holmdel, for several years. She was a member of the Monmouth Church of Christ, Tinton Falls. A polio survivor since age 9, she volunteered 13 years at Riverview Medical Center and Red Bank Convalescent Center, and was a member of the Monmouth County Post Polio Support Group. Her interests included music, sports and trips to Atlantic City. She was predeceased by six brothers, Daniel, Nick, Ercole, Robert, Ralph and John Geroni; and three sisters, Nugenta, Jane and Marguerite Geroni. She is survived by three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Marie and Karl Nordin of West Long Branch, Jeanette Sherman of Fair Haven, and Rita and Webb Harris of Florida; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Burial was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, 141 Bodman Place, Red Bank 07701.
DR. RAMON N. DeBIASE, 74, of New York City, formerly of Long Branch, died March 3 at the VA Medical Center, Lyons. He was born in Long Branch. He was a psychologist at New York Hospital, retiring 10 years ago. Prior to that, he was the owner and operator of Manhattan Realty, New York City, and was employed by Equitable Life Insurance. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He is survived by his brother, Robert C. DeBiase of Harrison; his sister and brother-in-law, Minnie and Paul Zaccaria of Long Branch; two nieces; and four nephews.
ROBERT J. ANDREWS, 74, of Middletown died March 14 at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City. Born in Bellingham, Wash., he lived in Parsippany prior to moving to Middletown in 1962. He was a department head for systems engineering for Bell Labs, Holmdel, for 35 years. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. His memberships included the Telephone Pioneers of America and the IEEE Association. He also coordinated the glaucoma eye screening group for the South Jersey Pioneers of America. He was predeceased by his first wife, Marion E. Nattrass; and his sister, Geraldine Simonsen. He is survived by his wife, Martha Emden Andrews of Middletown; two sons and one daughter-in-law, David J. Andrews of Bellingham, Wash., and Scott W. and Elizabeth N. Andrews of Westport, Conn.; his daughter and son-in-law, Lori J. and Richard L. Daniels of Eatontown; and two granddaughters. Burial was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to Prevent Blindness New Jersey, 2325 Route 130, Cranbury 08512; or First Presbyterian Church, 255 Harding Road, Red Bank 07701.
GERALD LEVINE, 69, of Howell died March 12 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., he lived in Long Branch before moving to Howell 36 years ago. He owned and operated Key Systems, Howell, a fire alarm equipment manufacturing company, for 35 years, retiring in 1995. He was a Sgt. 1st Class in the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War. He was a former mayor of Howell, serving from 1981-82, and served on the Township Committee in 1980. He was a member, former chief and past president of the board of fire commissioners for the Freewood Acres Fire Company, Howell. He was the former director of the Office of Emergency Management in Howell and had been the Monmouth County representative to the Ocean County Utilities Authority. He was a member and former president of the Freehold Rotary and received the Paul Harris Fellow Award. He was president emeritus of the New Jersey Fire Engine and Equipment Museum and a member of the British Fire Brigade Society in Great Britain. He is survived by his wife, Sally; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Mark Levine of Rockaway, and Barry and Darlene Levine of Lakewood; two stepsons and two stepdaughters-in-law, Gary and Anne Fox of Sanford, Fla., and Don and Stephanie Fox of Jacksonville, Fla.; two stepdaughters and a stepson-in-law, Dale and Dan Lauricella of Ridgeway, Pa., and Cynthia Ibrahim of Freehold Township; a brother, Sidney Levine of Plantation, Fla.; a sister and brother-in-law, Toby and Seymour Friedman of Wayne; and eight step-grandchildren. Interment was at Monmouth Memorial Park, Tinton Falls. Memorial donations may be made to CentraState Medical Center Radiology and Oncology Building Fund, c/o CentraState Healthcare Foundation, Fairfield Industrial Park, 916 Route 33, Suite 6, Freehold, 07728.
THE REV. STEPHEN H. CONGDON JR., 66, of Monroe Township and formerly Monmouth Beach, died March 20 at John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Edison. Born in Rumson, he was a lifelong Monmouth Beach resident and still kept a family residence there prior to moving to Monroe Township. He was founding pastor in 1992 of the Church of Nativity of Our Lord, Monroe Township. Prior to that, he served in the parishes of St. Francis, Metuchen; Immaculate Conception Church, Somerville; and Our Lady of Mercy Church, South Bound Brook. He was affiliated with several church youth groups, and during his tenure with the Diocese of Metuchen Long Range Planning Committee, oversaw the selection of land for what would become the Church of Nativity of Our Lord. His hobbies included surf casting, swimming, canasta and enjoying time with his family at the shore. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Richard Keller of Monmouth Beach; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Jesus Christ the High Priest was offered at the Church of Nativity of Our Lord. Interment was at Mount Carmel Cemetery, West Long Branch. Memorial donations may be made to the Building Fund, The Church of Nativity of Our Lord, 185 Applegarth Road, Monroe Township 08831.
MARGARET DOBSON, 94, of Middletown died March 29 at her daughter’s home in Middletown. Born in New York City, she lived in Naples, Fla., for 25 years, and Atlantic Highlands prior to moving to Middletown four years ago. She was a secretary for Fort Monmouth, Eatontown, for 18 years, retiring in 1970. She was predeceased by her husband, Edwin J. Dobson in 1983; a daughter, Jane Woodward; and a son, Thomas Dobson. She is survived by two daughters, Nancy Horan of Middletown, and Robin Dobson of New York City; two sons and daughters-in-law, Edwin and Carol Dobson of Middletown, and Raymond and Joanne Dobson of East Orleans, Mass.; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. Burial was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.
LINDAL I. "BROWNIE" BROWN, 69, of Oceanport died March 31 at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. Born in Summer Shade, Ky., he resided in Long Branch for the past 15 years. He was the owner and founder of Brown’s Heating & Cooling, Shrewsbury. He was an elder for 20 years at the Monmouth Church of Christ, Tinton Falls. He was predeceased by a sister, Mary Walbert. He is survived by his wife, Joyce E. Adams Brown of Oceanport; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Larry E. and Jeanne M. Brown of West Long Branch, and Douglas Brown; two daughters, Linda Fay Brown of Oceanport and Carolyn Elaine Brown of Brick; five brothers, Charles Brown, Bill Brown, David Brown, Jerry Brown and B.J. Brown; two sisters, Suzie Layne and Carol Rector; and three grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Monmouth Church of Christ, followed by interment at Forest Green Park Cemetery, Morganville section of Marlboro. Memorial donations may be made to the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine for Pulmonary Fibrosis Research, 1400 Jackson St., Denver CO 80206.
