Obituaries

Greater Media Newspapers prints obituaries as a free community service, at no charge to the families of the deceased or to the funeral homes that provide the information.

MICHAEL C. MICHAU, 23, of Howell, died Dec. 2 in Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, after a courageous battle with lung disease. Born in Long Branch, he resided in Wall Township before moving to Howell seven years ago. He was employed by the New Brunswick Police Department as a police communications operator for the past year. He also worked for the Neptune City Police Department and MONOC. He was an intelligence security officer in Edison Township. He was a 1997 graduate of Wall Township High School and graduated with the first Junior Navy ROTC class at the high school. He received the meritorious service award from the department of the Navy. He was a member of many public service organizations including: the Fraternal Order of the Police, the National Police Defense Foundation, the Howell Township Office of Emergency Management, the Neptune Township Office of Emergency Management, Howell Township First Aid and Rescue Squad, the Wall Township Police Explorers, the Manalapan Police Explorers, the West Belmar Fire Explorers, the Order of the Arrow Boy Scouts of America, and the New Jersey Naval Militia, serving as petty officer third class. He was also a certified animal control officer and a certified EMT and heavy extrication technician. He was also a member of SMARTSAR. He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Marjorie and Charlie Doerzbacher. Surviving are his parents, Richard C. and Bonnie Doerzbacher Michau of Howell; his paternal grandmother, Shirley Gloshen of Wall Township; an aunt and uncle, Wendie and Stephen Berardi of Palm City, Fla.; and two cousins. George S. Hassler Funeral Home, Jackson, was in charge of arrangements.

JAMES W. LEAHY, 75, of Lakewood, died Dec. 2 in Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune. He was born on Staten Island, N.Y. A former newspaper executive having at one time served as general manager of the Freehold Transcript and director of advertising for the News Tribune in Woodbridge, he started his newspaper career with the Staten Island Advance. After moving to New Jersey to work for the Perth Amboy Evening News, he held other executive positions with various publications throughout the state, including retail manager, credit manager and community relations director. He also published his own entertainment magazine called the Revue for several years. In 1967 he founded the New Jersey State Newspaper Credit Managers Association and was its first president. He retired from the newspaper business in 1992 while working for the Jersey City Journal. He was a Navy coxswain during World War II and served his tour of duty while in the Seabees stationed in the Philippines. He was a charter member of the Staten Island Jaycees and the Staten Island North Shore Kiwanis Club. He also served as the club’s first vice president. He was also a co-founder and first commander of the former Lynch Gionatti American Legion Post on Staten Island. He was also a former member of the Freehold Rotary, the Matawan Elks, the Staten Island Knights of Columbus, the Keyport American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2179, Port Monmouth. Surviving are his wife, Mary Leahy; a daughter, Melissa McLean; and three grandchildren. D’Elia Funeral Home, Lakewood, was in charge of arrangements.

ROBERT W. HARMER III, 4, of Brick, died Nov. 25 in Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune. Born in Brick, he attended the Primary Learning Center of Brick and the Children’s Specialized Hospital of Toms River for therapy. Surviving are his parents, Robert W. Jr. and Tracey L. Joggerst Harmer; two sisters Cathrine Harmer and Cynthia King, both of Brick; his grandparents, Robert W. Sr. and JoyAnn Harmer of Jackson, Cynthia Sisco of Howell, and Robert Sisco of Seaside Heights, and John W. Sr. and Gayle Dennis of Little Egg Harbor; great-grandparents, Walter and Lillian Harmer of Toms River; uncles, Michael Dennis of Howell, and John Dennis Jr. of Little Egg Harbor; his aunts and uncle, JulieAnn and Dave Vaughn of New Egypt, Plumsted Township, and Kathryn Dennis of Howell; and a large extended family. A Mass was offered at St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church, Brick. Interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Lakewood.

MARY E. ROBBINS, 74, of the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold, died Dec. 3 at home. Born in Yardville, she had lived in Allentown before moving to Cream Ridge 35 years ago. Mrs. Robbins was a member of the Millstone Senior Citizens Club. She was predeceased by her husband, Ernest H. Sr.; a sister, Anna DeBow; and a brother, Walter Smith. Mrs. Robbins is survived by a son, Ernest H. Jr. of Cream Ridge; a daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Louis deBerlhe of Cream Ridge; two sisters, Dorothy Chamberlain of New Egypt and Bertie Thompson of Cream Ridge; two brothers, Charles Smith of Neptune and Samuel Smith of Philadelphi, Tenn.; three grandsons; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service was officiated by the Rev. Horace M. Frantz. Interment took place at the Allentown Methodist Cemetery, Allentown. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 7630 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville 08648.

ANGELO DITRE, 63, of Jackson, died Dec. 7 at home. Born in Levittown, Long Island, N.Y., he lived in Staten Island, N.Y., for 25 years before moving to Jackson two years ago. He was a bus driver for Dimino Bus Co. in Brooklyn, N.Y., before retiring in 1992. He was a communicant of St. Aloysius Church, Jackson. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge No. 168, Brooklyn. He was predeceased by his wife, Helen; a brother, John; and a sister, Caroline Rogers. Surviving are two sons, Thomas of Freehold, and Angelo of Staten Island, N.Y.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and John Rago of Freehold, and Denise and John Pasqualichio of Jackson; a brother, Joseph of Staten Island; a sister, Eleanor Ortiz of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; and eight grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Aloysius Church, Jackson. Interment was in St. Gabriel’s Mausoleum, Marlboro.