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.
THOMAS G. THOMPSON, 53, of Pompano Beach, Fla., died Dec. 28 at home following a short illness. Born in Newark, he resided in the Elberon section of Long Branch before moving to Florida 10 years ago. He was employed at The Florida State Department of Agriculture. Prior to that, he worked at Lucent Technologies. He was a graduate of Long Branch High School, and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, and the University of Florida, Gainesville. He was predeceased by his mother, Matilda Thompson, in 1974; and his father, Thomas Thompson, in 1990. He is survived by his brother, Richard Thompson of Los Angeles; three sisters, Donna Thompson of Elberon, Gail Thompson of the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township, and Jeane Oliver of the Leonardo section of Middletown; a brother-in-law, William Oliver Jr.; a sister-in-law, Barbara Thompson; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Jan. 24 at 12:30 p.m. at Stella Maris Retreat, Elberon. Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 1600 Route 22, Union 07083.
DENISE SATTER-GORE, 51, of Santa Clara, Calif., and formerly Long Branch, died recently at home after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. Born in Washington, D.C., she moved to Long Branch in 1952. Mrs. Satter-Gore was a gallery artist and freelance illustrator, and her art will be shown in San Francisco in April. Her illustrations appeared on book covers, greeting cards, interiors, and album covers. She had several fine art and commercial credits to her name, and her acrylic paintings were exhibited in galleries and museums in cities such as New York, San Francisco and Philadelphia. She was the recipient of a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and was the author of a children’s environmental book and other works. She was an honors graduate of Monmouth University, West Long Branch. Her memberships included the Second Generation Group of San Jose, Calif., and the Women’s Caucus of the Arts. She is survived by her parents, Helen and Warren Satter of Long Branch; her sister, Michelle Satter of Pacific Palisades, Calif.; and her husband and stepson, Richard Gore and Jeremy Gore of Santa Clara, Calif.
LOUIS MASTRIA, 78, of Rumson died Jan. 1 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Jersey City, he had been a resident of Rumson for the past 44 years. Mr. Mastria was a deputy comptroller at Fort Monmouth Signal School, Eatontown, for 38 years, retiring in 1979. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a communicant of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, Red Bank. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 3187, Fair Haven, and the Officers Club, Fort Monmouth. He enjoyed time with his family, and was an avid baseball player and played with the Tigers Athletic Club. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carmela Piroso Mastria of Rumson; two sons and daughters-in-law, Louis "Corky" and Ann Marie Mastria Jr. of Monmouth Beach, and John P. and Karen E. Mastria of Middletown; his daughter and son-in-law, Frances L. and Dr. Keith Sharkan of Malvern, Pa.; two brothers, Vincent Mastria of Belleville, and Richard Mastria of Cape Cod, Mass.; and seven grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Anthony of Padua Church. Memorial donations may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10021.
GERALDINE "DEANIE" F. STECKROTH, 54, of Little Silver died Jan. 3 at home after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she resided in South Orange prior to moving to Little Silver in 1975. Mrs. Steckroth was a former elementary school teacher at Montrose School, South Orange. She was a daily communicant and Eucharistic minister at the Church of the Nativity, Fair Haven. She was a member of the Little Silver Board of Education, and founder and president of the Red Bank Regional Education Foundation. Her activities included spending time with her family. She is survived by her husband, Donald Steckroth of Little Silver; two daughters and a son-in-law, Jessica Steckroth of New York City, and Sarah and Anthony Weber of Monmouth Beach; two sons, Brian Steckroth and Thomas Steckroth, both at home; two sisters, Carol Freeman of Bethesda, Md., and Margaret Mahoney of Convent Station; two brothers, William Ward of Montvale, and Robert Ward of Summerville, S.C.; and one granddaughter. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at the Church of the Nativity. Memorial donations may be made to The Yellow Rose Foundation, 3 Holly Drive, Little Silver 07739.
CHARLES J. RAJNER, 59, of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, died Jan. 13 at home. Born in Tarnopol, Poland, he moved to the United States in 1949. He lived in New York City, Brooklyn, and Queens, N.Y., before moving to Port Monmouth in 1984. He was a retired cable splicer for Verizon, Brooklyn, for 30 years. He served with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. He was predeceased by his parents, Emanuel and Karolina Rajner; a brother, Benny Reiner, in 1997; and two sisters, Janka Gorski and Sr. Mary Rajner, both in 1998. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Marilyn Clark Rajner of Port Monmouth; two sons, Brandon Rajner of Little Silver, and Christopher Rajner of Port Monmouth; a daughter, Melanie Rajner of Parlin; four brothers, Edmond Rajner of Bainbridge, N.Y.; Richard Rajner of Glenn View, Ill.; John Rajner of Theresa, N.Y.; and Alex Rajner of Dumont; and a sister, Sarah Kaban of Central Islip, N.Y. A funeral gathering will be held Jan. 17 at 9:30 a.m. at at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to St. Barnabas Center for Hospice Care, 300 Second Ave., Long Branch, 07740.