Kyriakos Vretakos
Mr. Vretakos, 90, of Miramar, Fla., died April 22 at Memorial Regional Hospital, Hollywood, Fla. Born in Greece, he resided in Queens, N.Y., and Ocean for 19 years before moving to Miramar one year ago. He was the owner of Bay Crest Restaurant, Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, N.Y., for 13 years, retiring 20 years ago. Mr. Vretakos is survived by his wife, Mary Karos Vretakos; a son and daughter-in-law, George and Marina Vretakos of Miramar; a daughter and son-in-law Evelyn and John Ivaliotis of Freehold; and five grandchildren. A funeral service was held at St. Demetrius Greek Orthodox Church, Perth Amboy. Burial was at Cypress Hill Cemetery, Brooklyn. Arrangements were by the Carmen F. Spezzi Funeral Home, Parlin.Rose LoBello Russo Hammed
Mrs. Hammed, 79, of the West End section of Long Branch, died April 21 at home. Born in Walpack Center, she had lived in Jersey City prior to moving to Long Branch 20 years ago. She was predeceased by two brothers, Louis LoBello and Joseph LoBello; and three sisters, Lucy Iovino, Marie Scalcione, and Mary Ann Lionetti. Mrs. Hammed is survived by her husband, Anthony Hammed; two sons, Albert Russo of the Lincroft section of Middletown, and Charles Russo of Holmdel; four brothers, Frank LoBello of Long Branch; Anthony LoBello of Toms River, Charles LoBello of Rutherford, and Richard LoBello of Lincoln Park; two sisters, Clara Midola of Jersey City and Antoinette Esposito of Long Branch; and five grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, West End, followed by interment at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport. Arrangements were by Damiano Funeral Home, Long Branch. Memorial donations may be made to the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany St., New Brunswick 08901.Walter R. Earle
Mr. Earle, 67, of Freehold, died April 6 at New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York City. Born in Freehold, he was the son of Mary Wohr Earle and Walter D. Earle. While attending the Freehold schools, he worked for various employers in the town of Freehold. Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed on the USS Albany. During the latter part of his four years of service, he earned the position of Gig Coxswain (the admiral’s personal boat captain) and reported directly to Adm. John McCain, the father of Sen. John McCain. While he served as Gig Coxswain, Mr. Earle received a commendation from Adm. McCain for outstanding performance. After honorable discharge from the service in October 1958, he worked for two years as a laborer for Thomas Nicol Co. Inc. From 1960-65, he was employed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Division of State Aid, where he was a project inspector. He then became an inspection supervisor of construction projects for Birdsall Engineering in Belmar. In 1968 he incorporated Earle Asphalt Co., whose first project was for Lakehurst Naval Air Station. In 1974 he purchased an asphalt plant in Jackson from Gallo Asphalt Co. Mr. Earle’s companies received many national and state awards, and in 1991 he introduced an environmental company that, with the help of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, pioneered the technology of decontaminating soil in the state. He was also a philanthropist who donated, often anonymously, money and time to charitable organizations such as the Catholic Church, St. Rose of Lima Elementary School, the borough of Freehold police and the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad. During the 1970s, he was on Central Jersey Bank & Trust Co.’s board of directors and also served on the executive board of trustees for the Associated Independent Contractors, as well as on the board of directors for the New Jersey Asphalt Pavement Association. Mr. Earle was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Gloria M. Witkowski. Surviving are his wife of 42 years, Marianne Dreyer Earle; four daughters, Jennifer Millar of Summit and Bay Head, Allison Cleary Earle of Ocean Township, Jessica M. Earle of Jersey City and Susan M. Earle of Freehold; three sons, Walter R. Earle II of Brielle, and Thomas J. Earle and Michael G. Earle, both of Wall Township; a sister, Catherine Ginnoulis of California; and 13 grandchildren, to whom he was better known as "Duke." The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Chapel, Freehold, followed by interment at the parish cemetery, Freehold Township. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to St. Rose of Lima School, 51 Lincoln Place, Freehold 07728.Bertha Paul McCaskey
Mrs. McCaskey, 86, of Hazlet died April 26 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Guttenburg, she resided in North Bergen prior to moving to Hazlet 45 years ago. She was an office manager at Provident Insurance Company, Newark, for 15 years, retiring in 1980. She was a member of several senior clubs at local churches, as well as the Senior Bowling League, Hazlet. She was predeceased by her husband, Gerald J. McCaskey; and a sister, Anna Kodada. She is survived by a son, Drew McCaskey of Schwenksville, Pa.; a daughter, Noel Kayser of Long Branch; a sister, Chrisdelane Delaney of Gainesville, Fla.; and three grandchildren.
Eugene P. Adams
Mr. Adams, 81, of Long Branch, died April 13 at home. Born in Yardley, Pa., he was a lifelong resident of Long Branch. He was a liquor salesman for National Distillers, New York, for 25 years, retiring in 1990. He was a member, Elder and served on the board of trustees at the First Presbyterian Church of Long Branch. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member and ex-president of the Kiwanis International Club, Asbury Park; and past president and 1993 Man of the Year for Long Branch Republican National Committee. He was also a life member of BPOE Red Bank Lodge No. 233; member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2140, Long Branch; American Legion Post No. 0510, Middletown; and the Long Branch Old Guard. He was predeceased by his wife, Julia Kuhn-Hoffman Adams in 1999. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Victoria and Jonathan Otis of Long Branch; a brother and sister-in-law, Raymond Lenos and Simone Adams of Trenton; two grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. A funeral service was at the First Presbyterian Church, Long Branch. Entombment was at Woodbine Mausoleum, Oceanport. Arrangements were by Damiano Funeral Home, Long Branch. Memorial donations may be made to Kiwanis International Club, P.O. Box 392, Asbury Park 07712.
Kenneth James Darcy
Mr. Darcy, 70, of Ocean Township died April 20 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Jersey City, he resided in Bayonne and North Arlington prior to moving to Ocean Township three years ago. He was a truck driver for Carolina Freight, Jersey City, where he was employed 20 yeas before his retirement. Prior to that, he worked at Monsanto Chemical Co., Kearny. He served with and received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Darcy is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen and Wendy Patrovich of Highlands, Kenneth and Barbara Rende of Weston, Fla., and Robert and Barbara Darcy of West Palm Beach, Fla.; his former wife, Darlene Darcy; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several cousins. Interment was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. The John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, was in charge of arrangements.
Alexander J. Povalski, M.D.
Dr. Povalski, 76, of Rumson, died April 13 at Care One at Holmdel. He resided in Rumson the past 40 years. He practiced as a cardiovascular surgeon at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank; Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel; and Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, from 1973-98. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a communicant of Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, Rumson. During his career, he received the Dr. William Perry Watson Prize in Pediatrics for the most notable work in the study of the disease on infants and children. He was a member of the Association of Knights and Ladies Holy Sepulchre, New York City. He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Assatly in 1992. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Alexander J. and Heather Povalski Jr. of Middletown; a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Robert Winters of the Lincroft section of Middletown; his mother-in-law, Claire Assatly of Monmouth Beach; and four grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at Holy Cross Church. Arrangements were by John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank.