Charles C. Coutu, 82, of Hazlet, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2016, at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune. Charlie was born on Nov. 17, 1933, in Lowell, Massachusetts, where he also grew up.
In 1953, he moved to the Bronx, where he met his future wife, Joan. On May 28, 1955, Charlie and Joan were married. In 1964, they settled in Hazlet to continue raising their family. He spent 45 years in banking before retiring as Branch Manager and Vice President of the Keyport branch of Wells Fargo.
Charlie was an enthusiastic Mets fan and loved fishing. He was an involved communicant at St. Benedict Church in Holmdel for over 50 years. Charlie was also an avid gardener, and he put his skills to good use at the garden at St. Benedict’s. Under his direction, the garden produced thousands of pounds of produce that went directly to the food pantry run by St. Benedict Church, helping feed many families in need in the community.
Besides his family, Charlie always felt that his greatest accomplishment was the construction of the baseball fields and refreshment stand on Hazlet Avenue. Armed only with an idea and no money to support it, he, along with his friend Bill Mueller, took some vacant swampland and turned it into the wonderful sports complex it is today. These fields have benefited the youth of Hazlet since the 1970s and will continue to do so for generations to come. When those fields opened up in the mid-’70s, they were dedicated to those two men and the fields named in their honor; The Hazlet Youth Athletic League Charles C. Coutu, William S. Mueller Fields.
Charlie was predeceased by his son, Richard J. Coutu; his parents, Alfred J. and Marie (Prive) Coutu; his brothers, Arthur, Leo, Robert and Edmund Coutu; and his sisters, Rita Shelton, Claire Caldwell and Alice Kelley. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Joan K. (Maushardt) Coutu; his loving children, Thomas Coutu and his wife, Wendy, of Middletown, Kathleen Dennison and her husband, William, of Utah, Marie Coutu of Hazlet, Patricia Coutu of Hazlet, and Jeanne Moir and her husband, David, of Jackson; and his daughter-in-law, Jane Coutu of Red Bank. Charlie is also survived by his dear sisters, Laura Fuller and Gertrude Flaherty; his 15 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He will be missed.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Shore Point Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 3269 State Route 35 north, Hazlet. In respect of Charles’ wishes, he will be privately cremated. Donations in Charles’ memory to the St. Benedict Food Pantry, 165 Bethany Road, Holmdel, would be greatly appreciated. For information, directions or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.shorepointfh.com.