Janice A. Manganello
Mrs. Manganello, 63, of Manalapan, died Oct. 4 at Rahway Hospital, Rahway. Born and raised in Brick, she had lived in Jersey City before moving to Manalapan 24 years ago. She was a secretary for the S.G.S. Communities construction company, Manalapan, for many years. She was also a communicant of Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church, Englishtown. Surviving are her husband of 36 years, Anthony Sr.; a son, Anthony Jr. of Manalapan; three brothers, Charles, Hoppy and Paul Sherman, all of Brick; and three sisters, Tracy Sherman of West Virginia, and Judy and Gay Sherman, both of Brick. A funeral liturgy was offered at Our Lady of Mercy Church, followed by interment at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan. Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.
Joel Opatut
Mr. Opatut, 82, of the West End section of Long Branch, died Sept. 23 at home. He was a Holocaust survivor, as were his three brothers. Born in Szadek, Poland, he arrived in the United States with his wife and son in 1949. He and his brothers purchased a chicken farm in Freehold, which became Colonial Foods Inc. He was the chairman of Colonial Foods/Colonial Marketing Associates, Freehold Township, and a director of American Planned Communities. Mr. Opatut was a member of Temple Beth El, Oakhurst. He was also a benefactor of both the Frances Opatut Junior High School in Lakewood and an orphanage in Beer Sheva, Israel; the donor of the Joel Opatut Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch; a member of the U.S. Committee Sports for Israel, as well as the Founders Club of Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach, Fla.; a past board member of the Monmouth Medical Center Foundation; a founder of Congregation Sons of Israel, Lakewood; and a supporter of Israel bonds. Freehold Township’s Opatut Park was named in his honor for his donation to the township of 136 acres. Mr. Opatut and his family were the underwriters of the restoration of the Szadek, Poland, cemetery, where his family members are buried. He was predeceased in 1977 by his wife, Frances. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Abraham S. and Susan Opatut of Freehold Township; two daughters and sons-in-law, Arlene and Bernard Hammer of Lakewood, and Toby and Steven Rofsky of Freehold Township; seven grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and special friend Rachel Troper. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at Beth Israel Memorial Park, Woodbridge. Shiva was observed at his former residence. Memorial donations may be made to the Joel Opatut Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center at Monmouth Medical Center, 300 Second Ave., Long Branch 07740. For more information about the center, call (732) 923-7454.
Robert Acerra
Mr. Acerra, 64, of Middletown, died Oct. 2 at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. Before his retirement in 2006, Mr. Acerra worked in several restaurants in Monmouth County and then opened the first of five Luigi’s Famous Pizza Restaurants in 1969. He served with the U.S. Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church, Middletown. He was instrumental in forming the Boys Youth Athletic Association (BYAA), Middletown. Mr. Acerra is survived by his wife, Diane Healey Acerra; two sons, Robert Acerra Jr. and Domenick Acerra, both of Middletown; three stepsons, Glen, Brian and Eric School, all of Middletown; two brothers, Ralph Acerra of Freehold and Joseph Acerra of Tinton Falls; a sister, Joan Marangello of Middletown; and five grandchildren. A funeral service was held at the John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, followed by burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery, both in Middletown.