Ronald "Ronnie" G. Velardi, Jr., a Sergeant in the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and resident of Manahawkin, N.J. passed away on October 30th, 2011. He was 45 years old. Born in Glen Ridge, N.J., to Ronald and Carol Ann Velardi, and raised in Toms River, N.J. Mr. Velardi graduated from Toms River High South where he was a team Captain and led his football team to winning the 1983 State Championship. Mr. Velardi attended Glassboro State College where he was a member of the world's largest fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon.

 

After receiving his degree in Law and Justice, Mr. Velardi completed the Ocean County Police Academy and was hired as a police officer by the Seaside Park (NJ) Police Department. After several successful years in Seaside Park, Mr. Velardi joined the Maplewood (NJ) Police Department. During his years with the Maplewood Police Department, Mr. Velardi met his now wife, Donna, and received a scholarship to attend Seton Hall University, where he completed his Master's Degree in Business Administration and Supervision. Mr. Velardi and his family moved to Manahawkin, NJ shortly after being appointed to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office. During his 21 year law enforcement career, Mr. Velardi received multiple honors and recognitions for his outstanding police work. He served as Chairman of Negotiations for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Detectives and Investigators Association, PBA Local 171, and he was involved in The Italian American Police Society of NJ and Kappa Delta PI, an International Honor Society in Education. Mr. Velardi coordinated and instructed courses for the Law Enforcement Advanced Detectives School (Leads), Criminal Justice Academy and Ocean County Police Academy. In 2010, Mr. Velardi's hard work, dedication, and knowledge of law enforcement were further rewarded when he was appointed to the position of Sergeant of County Investigators, Prosecutor's Office.

 

Mr. Velardi had a passion for sports, especially baseball. He enjoyed watching any baseball game regardless of the level, coaching his sons, and talking about the strategies, techniques, and statistics of the game. Anyone who knew him was often greeted by a bone-crushing hand shake or a rib-cracking hug. Whether family, friends, or a new acquaintance, all were treated with enthusiasm and excitement as if they hadn't seen each other for years. Above all else, Mr. Velardi loved his family very much, and his children, of whom he was so proud, were his everything. He was predeceased by his father Ronald G. Velardi, Sr. Mr. Velardi is survived by his wife Donna; his three sons, Devon, Ronald "Naldo", and Nicholas, Manahawkin, NJ; his mother Carol Ann Velardi, Toms River, NJ; his sister Ronica Velardi, Toms River, NJ; his brother Rodney Velardi, sister-in-law, Sara Velardi, two nephews Manny and Joey, and niece Kaci of Egg Harbor Township, NJ.

Visitation will be held on Thursday Nov. 3, 2011 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main St. Toms River, NJ. A funeral service will be held on Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Tom s River. Condolences may be made by visiting www.andersonandcampbell.com.