All Obituaries

Jose (Joe) Ampudia, 62, of Hoboken, New Jersey, passed away at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, NJ on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 surrounded by his family. Joe was an avid fisherman and golfer.  He truly enjoyed the outdoors.  He was a superintendent for several housing complexes during his career in several communities and recently retired.  Joe was a talented person and could diagnosis a plumbing problem and find an easy solution. Mr. Ampudia was predeceased by his...

Muriel W. Markano, age 66, daughter of the late James J. Markano and Muriel E. Markano, sister to the late William P. Mallek (adoptive brother), passed away on Monday, May 17, 2021.  She is survived by her brothers, James J. Markano, Jr. of Edison, NJ and Edwin E. Markano of Monroe, NJ. For 32 years Muriel lived in a group home in Clark under the care of the ARC of Union County.  She has resided at Runnelis in Berkeley Heights for the past 4 1/2 years. She loved to dance and...

John Denver Beetham, age 43, died early in the morning May 10, 2021, due to complications from an epileptic seizure. John was an avid birder and naturalist who was well known in the New Jersey birding community for his thorough reporting and keen observational skills in the field. Much of his education took place in Middlesex County schools: St. Paul the Apostle School in Highland Park, St. Joseph’s High School in Metuchen, and Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he was a history major, a...

Joseph S. Torrisi passed away on April 26, 2021 at the age of 96. He was born in Highland Park to Sebastian and Sara Torrisi.  Joseph served proudly as a Corpsman in World War II and the Korean War in the US Navy. Joseph was a hairdresser at Torrisi's Beauty Salan and a dental ceramist.  He was a talented musician and played for many years as a drummer in the Imperial Band of South River.   He is predeceased in death by his loving parents, Sara and Sebastian...

Edward John Firgau, 90 years old, entered eternal rest to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He passed away peacefully on March 20, 2021 in his home, with his family at his side. Ed was born and raised in Rahway, New Jersey, the fourth of five children born to Venezuelan immigrant parents. He graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, King’s Point, NY earning a degree in Marine Transportation, a Merchant Marine officer’s license, and a commission in the...

I'm sad to announce that Richard C. Lee, 89, of Somerville New Jersey, had passed away on March 8th, 2021, after a valiant 5-day long battle with sepsis at the Somerset Medical Center. He had suffered complications resulting from the blockage of a kidney stone. He was born on December 24, 1932, in Shanghai China, and is survived by his only daughter, Jessica Lee, and his nieces and nephews. Richard was a very modest, kind-hearted, and generous soul, a devoted father, a loving uncle, and...

Passed away Friday, February 19, 2021, at the age of 97, with her loving companion Dr. Jackson Toby, Professor of Sociology Emeritus at Rutgers University, by her side. Miriam was a kind, affectionate and caring mother of three sons, the late David Allan (Mary Ellen Flaherty), Peter Clark (Barbara) and Richard Jay (Susan). Miriam (or Mimi as they knew her) was the devoted grandmother of six to Katharine, Elizabeth, David, Clark, Caroline and Jennifer and great-grandmother of six, as well as...

Helene Rockman, of Highland Park passed away on February 9th, 2021. She was born in Poughkeepsie, NY on February 23rd, 1947; the daughter of Victor and Naomi Emmet. She taught decades of students at Highland Park High School until she retired in 2013. None of this information will tell you anything about Helene that really matters. Helene. Lainie. Rock. Mom. She was fierce, funny and so full of love that the tributes posted and pouring in barely begin to paint her full picture. She was a...

Hector M. Santiago passed away gracefully on February 6, 2021 in Highland Park, NJ surrounded by his family. Born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, he was the son of Miguel A. Santiago and Ezequiela Negron.  He was the domestic partner of Loretgis Sandoval where they shared 17 years together.  He is survived by his partner: Lois Sandoval; daughters Jessica I. Esteves, Belinda & Roxanne Santiago; grandchildren: Andrew, Luis Jr, Jasmine and Benjamin M. Esteves,...

Cynthia D. Walling, age 86, of Highland Park, NJ died at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ on Feb. 4, 2021 after being admitted with Covid-19. She was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 28th 1934. Mrs. Walling is survived by two daughters: Madeline Becker of Middletown, DE and Laura Becker and her husband, Scott of Cherry Hill, NJ, and three grandchildren: Karl, Denise, and Justin.  She is also survived by her long time companion, Nick Lombardi.  She was...