Irvington High School
Recently Departed
Memorial visiting hours will be held at Bradley, Smith & Smith Funeral Home, 415 Morris Ave. in Springfield, N.J., on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and again at Basking Ridge Country Club, Basking Ridge, N.J., from 1 to 4 p.m. for a celebration of life.
Born and raised in Irvington, N.J., the daughter of Ellsworth and Jean (Ralston) Tombs, Audrey graduated from Irvington High School in 1954. She also lived in Roselle Park, N.J., and Short Hills, N.J., before moving to Spring Lake Heights, 28 years ago. A real estate agent, Audrey
Audrey was the beloved wife of 60 years to George. She was the loving mother of the late Dawn Reiner, and Richard Reiner (Heather), Jack Reiner (Nancy) and Katie Reiner. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren Stephanie, Morgan, Olivia, Ally, Evan, Ava, and Austin and her dear sister, Nancy Wade Fiallo. She wass predeceased by her siblings, Peggy Tombs, Evelyn Cornell and Ronald Tombs. In lieu of flowers, donations in Audrey's memory may be made to , 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis TN 38105.
Richard C. Vigeant, 80, of Mashpee, formerly of Montclair, NJ, passed away peacefully at Keystone Place in Buzzards Bay on August 15, 2017. He was the beloved husband of Lynn Vigeant. Richard graduated from (Irvington High School, Class of '54), and Bloomfield College in NJ. He then served in the US Navy before starting Cedarcrest Realty in Caldwell, NJ. After 40 years in real estate and property management, he retired to Cape Cod. A Rotarian for 50 years, and a one-time president of his NJ branch, he joined the Rotary in Osterville. He enjoyed singing with the We Are The Men Chorale, birdwatching, skiing, fishing and playing in a pool league. A cheerful optimistic person, Richard will be missed by all who loved him.
In addition to his wife Lynn of 58 years, Richard is survived by 3 children, Steve Vigeant and wife Martha of Oakland, CA; Terry Mitchell and husband Dave of Medford, MA; Cindy Gorriaran and husband Dan of Providence, RI; his sister Carol Martin of Edison, NJ; and 6 grandchildren: Kate, Nathan, Alison, Heron, Vale, and Io.
IN MEMORY OF
Rochelle Unger Zumoff - died approximately June 2014
(Per Dawn Krantz 4/6/2016)
IN MEMORY OF
Anthony Giunta - died Sunday, September 6, 2015
IN MEMORY OF
Barry Sirota - died Saturday, April 25, 2015
IN MEMORY OF
George A. Francis - died Saturday, February 1, 2014
A celebration of 77 years of life came to an end on February 1st, as George passed away surrounded by family. Born in Newark in 1936, George graduated from Irvington High School, attended Tufts University and graduated from RCA Technical School. He was in the Air Force during the Vietnam era and then worked as an electrical engineer for EAI in West Long Branch. George's true love was sailing and boating, and his passion surfaced into making it his career. In 1972 he opened Surf Sailing, which remains a landmark in Point Pleasant Beach. George has been a member of the Metedeconk River Yacht Club for 60 years. His white beard and hair was the classic appearance of an old salt sailor, fitting, as his happiest times were on the water. He has always been an icon in the Barnegat Bay Sailing Community, was past president of Marine Trades Association of NJ, member of Kiwanis and Lions clubs, and also a long-time member of the Barnegat Bay Power Squadron.
He leaves behind his wife, Meredith; three children and one granddaughter. His life touched numerous people, and he will be missed as he sails off into eternity. Donations to the Rocking the Boat Foundation, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or the Jersey Shore Animal Shelter.
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IN MEMORY OF
Bob Ptashinski - Died June 13, 1997
(Barry Sirota recently (8/26/14) notified us of Bob's death, and Gerald DePass investigated and found that Bob died on June 13, 1997. We are still trying to find Bob's obituary. If anyone can give us any further information, please let us know.)
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IN MEMORY OF
Sid Turner, beloved husband of Aina Ekholm Turner, who passed away on April 18, 2014 after a three-year battle with asophogile Cancer. They were married 53 years and have four children and six grandchildren.
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IN MEMORY OF
Charles "Buddy" McCutcheon, Sr. - Died Monday, May 19, 2014
Buddy was born in Newark and resided in Maplewood prior to moving to Clark, where he had lived the past 45 years. He was inducted into the Irvington High School Hall of Fame as a football star. He graduated from Muhlenberg College with a degree in history. He attended college on a football scholarship. He was also an avid bowler and Notre Dame football fan. He taught language arts and social studies at Carl H. Kumpf School and Charles Brewer School in Clark for 39 years, retiring in 1999.
Buddy was predeceased by his beloved wife Frances (Kaufmann) McCutcheon and his brother, George McCutcheon. He is survived by his devoted children, Chuck McCutcheon and his wife, Lisa Ecola of DC; Caren van Wyk and her husband Ken of Virginia; and Megan Quigley and her husband Chris of Cranford; his cherished grandchildren, Declan, Ashlyn, and Braden; his brothers Robert and James McCutcheon; his sister, Marie Menzel; and his devoted caregiver, Maria Jobadze.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Clark Education Fund, PO Bo 5542, Clark, NJ 07066 (www.clarkeducationfund.com).
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IN MEMORY OF
John Dolinajec - Died Friday, March 28, 2014
John Anton Dolinajec, 77, of West Point Island, Lavallette, N.J., died Friday, March 28, 2014, at Community Medical Center, Toms River, N.J. Visitation will be on Monday, March 31, 2014, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, 145 St. Catherine Blvd., Toms River. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Committal will be private. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.ryanfuneralhome.com.
John was born in Newark and lived in Irvington; Roselle Park; Clark; and Lavallette before being displaced by Sandy. His desire was always to return to his beloved Lavallette. He graduated from Irvington High School and received is M.A. from Kean College and his M.Ed. from Columbia University, and was in the process of completing the doctoral program at Columbia. Mr. Dolinajec served in the U.S. Army, 1st Mountain Division, in Bamberg, Germany, and was a Civil Air Patrol captain.
He was employed at the Orange Board of Education as a science and math teacher, and was the director of the adult education program at the Union County Technical Vocational School, Scotch Plains. John was the public information officer for the Lavallette Fire Department, and was a Toms River lacrosse coach, and former football coach of the Section 3 championship team at Orange High School. He was also a member of the Lavallette Yacht Club and the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge in Ortley Beach. He was an avid skier, traveled to over 40 countries on six of the seven continents, and was a member of several gyms. He enjoyed biking, swimming, rugby, lacrosse, judo, wrestling, and golfing, and was also a pilot and boater. He loved the Shore, flying, and especially traveling and being with his family. He was fun and extremely witty.
Surviving are his wife, Rosalie Giangardella Dolinaj; his daughter, Alison Sipe; a granddaughter, Jordyn Rose Sipe; and his cousin, Dr. Patricia Brady.
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IN MEMORY OF
Emil Priebracha - Died Friday, November 1, 2013
Emil Priebracha, 77, of Holiday City, New Jersey, formerly of Springfield, died on Friday, November 1, 2013 at Overlook Medical Center due to complications in his battle with cancer. Memorial services were held at Faith Lutheran Church in New Providence on Tuesday, November 5. Emil was born April 8, 1936, the son of Sam and Suzy Priebracha of Irvington, New Jersey. Emil is survived by his wife Marie; his son, Mark and daughter-in-law Meghan; his daughter, Suzy and son-in-law Alex; also his three grandsons and his sister Anne Kenopensky. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
IN MEMORY OF
Mary Ann Craddock - Died Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Irvington High School Class of 1954
"Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Mary Ann Craddock, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away on March 20th, 2013 at 11:40 PM." (Editor's note: We were not able to obtain an obituary.)
IN MEMORY OF
Thomas Steven Bentkowski - Died Friday, February 8, 2013
Irvington High School Class of 1954
Thomas Stephen Bentkowski, 76, of Cranford, N.J., passed away on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield, N.J. www.higginsandbonner.com. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 108 Eastman St., Cranford. Entombment will follow at Somerset Hills Memorial Park in Basking Ridge, N.J. Tom was born in Newark, N.J., and grew up in Irvington, N.J. He graduated with high honors from Rutgers University and the American Savings and Loan Institute. He served in the Naval Reserve and held a master plumber's license. He was a member of the Polka Maniacs, Brick Elks, Irvington Optimist Club, Trailblazers Hunting Club, Warren County Rod and Gun Club and The Polish Cultural Foundation. Tom was predeceased by his daughter, Lisa, and his parents, Stephen and Helen (Landa) Bentkowski. He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Bentkowski; daughters, Lynn and her husband, Greg Rapuano, Ilona and her husband, Chris Lelli, and Renee and her husband, Louis Lelli; six grandchildren, Hunter Lelli, Robert Lelli, Stephen Rapuano, Kirsten Lelli, Matthew Lelli and Brandon Rapuano, and sisters, Lorraine Pelter and Rita Holloway, as well as many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society would be appreciated.
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IN MEMORY OF
Madeline A. Forster - Died Thursday, January 31, 2013
Irvington High School Class of 1954
Madeline A. Forster, 76, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, N.J. Visitation will be on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Gray Memorial Funeral Home in Cranford, N.J. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, at the funeral home, with burial to follow at Hollywood Memorial Park in Union, N.J. Go to grayfuneralhomes.com for online condolences. Born in Irvington, New Jersey, Madeline lived in Cranford before moving to Scotch Plains 13 years ago. She worked for 47 years at PNC Bank, where she retired from the Metro Park branch in Edison. She is survived by her loving sister, Alice B. Forster. Donations may be made to the Trinitas Health Foundation, Attention: Pamela Goldstein, P.O. Box 259, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207-0259.
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IN MEMORY OF
Jeanne A. Duncan - Died Thursday, December 6, 2012
Beloved daughter of Linda Kilbourne Duncan - IHS Class of 1954
Jeanne A. Duncan of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, formerly of Eastford, Danielson and Willimantic, Connecticut, died unexpectedly and peacefully at her home. She was the daughter of Linda Kilbourne Duncan of East Hartford, Connecticut and the later Charles H. Duncan. She is also survived by her brothers, Charles Duncan and his wife Rachel, and Michael Duncan and his wife Laurie and thier two children. Jeanne was a graduate of Killingly High School and earned a BA in English at the University of Connecticut, spending her junior year at the University of London, England. After working as a reporter at the Willimantic Chronicle, she moved to New Mexico, where she ran her own business as a case manager for the developmentally disabled. She also spent a year teaching English to schoolchildren in Pusan, South Korea. She was a prolific and creative writer, with many published short stories, and was embarking on a novel at the time of her death. A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Unviersalist Society East, 153 Vernon Street West, Manchester, Connecticut on Friday, December 21 at 1 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to her favorite charity, the no-kill animal shelter Watermelon Mountain Ranch, 1512 Debora Road SE #203, Rio Rancho New Mexico 87124.
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IN MEMORY OF
Marvin Herman - IHS Class of '54
Died May 7, 2010
Marvin Herman, of Boynton Beach, Florida, was born in Newark, New Jersey, was a graduate of Irvington High School Class of '54, and a long-time resident of Edison. He was a veteran of the US Army and served in the Korean War. Marvin was the owner of Selected Specialties Sales Co. of Kenilworth and Edison until his retirement and subsequent move to South Florida. He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Susan; and is survived by their three children, Ellen, David, and Marc; and his brother, Joel.
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IN MEMORY OF
Anthony Wagner - Died May 7, 2010
Beloved husband of Suzanne Jarvis Wagner - IHS Class of 1954
Born on September 22, 1933 in Newark, New Jersey, he is survived by his beloved wife, Suzanne; two sons, Michael and Anthony; a daughter, Laura; three grandchildren; and a brother, Ronald. Tony was a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, the American Legion, BPOE #2840 of Little River, SC, and the Sheet Metal Workers Union #22 in New Jersey. A private burial at sea was held. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
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IN MEMORY OF
Jeffrey Ethan Silver - Died April 7, 2010
Beloved son of Sandra Orenberg Gold - IHS Class of 1954
Only 47 years old, Jeffrey leaves his dearly loved wife, Dara Klein Silver, and cherished children, David and Lilliana. He is survived by his parents, Drs. Sandra and Arnold Gold and Dr. Howard and Jayne Silver. Generous to the end, Jeffrey's ultimate gift was organ donation, the "Gift of Life" to more than ten people in need. In his memory, the "Jeffrey Silver Memorial Fund to Improve Patient Care" has been established at the Gold Foundation, 619 Palisade Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632.