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Sent in by Ken Herr for Sonny Turner - I'd like to say a few words about Sonny Turner. Sonny was a great guy who always had a smile on his face, you couldn't help but like Sonny,he liked everybody. He made going to school fun. I remember times when he made me laugh so hard I couldn't breath. I was really saddened when I heard he passed. Sent in by Cathy Hess-Janis for Linda Kramer-Kroll - Linda was such a special person to me; she was a pivotal person in my life. I met Linda when I was 12 (1962) at Ship Ahoy Beach Club. We were summer friends; our friendship grew and in 1965 I transferred from the Mater Dei to Middletown High School. Having Linda as my best friend certainly made the transition easier! Linda was so at ease with people and was just so likeable! We had a blast….from school activities, dances at the “Oakes”, going to Red Bank on Saturdays, parties, spending the nights at her house, double-dating at times, leaving notes for each other at our lockers, having “beauty” nights (she taught me how to pluck my eyebrows and shave my legs!). We just loved being together!!! On nights when our parents would not let us go out, we really did not mind. I still smile when I think of our “love” lobster, a stuffed animal for autographs that we used as our “Wish List” and wrote down guy’s names that we wanted to date. Linda is part of my answer to “What is your most embarrassing moment?”….when I took off my sweat shirt off at the beach thinking I had my swim suit on ….but just had my bra on! Then at the end of Junior year we got our licenses and could hit the “hot spots”…in either my family’s royal blue Ford Falcon or Linda’s family’s yellow convertible. That year Linda also went with me to Florida for my family’s annual spring break vacation in St. Petersburg, where we stayed with my grandparents. We laughed about how it wasn’t as cool as Fort Lauderdale but we made it fun. We walked the beaches just as we did on the Jersey shore! In those three years of high school, we did not have any fights, which was so uncommon among teen girls. Upon hearing about my acceptance to University of Connecticut, I immediately got in the car as my first thought was that I wanted to share this with her. Linda always made me feel like a million bucks….even after the sweat shirt incidence! We kept in touch all through the years, with phone calls and visiting in NJ and in California (where I have lived for the past 27 years). We both had cancer at the same time (in late 2010) and, as usual, Linda was a great support for me. Her life was way too short but I know I am extremely glad that I had her for a friend. Sent in by Debbie Strickland-Tucker for Ron Tucker - Ron Tucker came into my life in 7th grade in Thompson Middle School. He was the bad boy....if there was a fight on the playground he was there.....in high school as seniors after having different classes together throughout four years in high school he became the "one" for me. In life we often don't find the "one" we want to be our beloved soul mate in life. We were lucky in 1969 to realize that our life would always be together. We worked through college and at that young age realized the best things in life are not about money but that you take the time to enjoy life. We raised two beautiful daughters now living in New York and Atlanta. We lived on the Gulf coast in Florida in a house we built together which we filled with happy memories. Ron's career took him far and wide in the world doing things he loved and places he had dreamed of....a far cry from Stephenville Road in Middletown. When you look at the star symbol on your ATM cards think of Ron....he helped implement the program that allowed banks to issue you that card. He always took great delight when ATMs first started when he would watch some guy in Las Vegas go though everything in his account in a couple of hours. He helped change the way we spend our money today. He always supported me in whatever endeavors I wanted to pursue. As a result I opened a travel agency then a meeting and event company. I traveled extensively while he watched the kids. He loved that aspect of his life. He loved spending time with the kids. He was always in the background doing the things I didn't want to do and always being my biggest cheerleader. We did this for over 20 years. In January 2004 he wanted to open Curves for Woman. He planned on retiring by 60 and thought this would be great fun for us to do together. We opened it and he loved owning his own company. Unfortunately we opened in January and he died in April so he never really saw the whole picture. His life was cut short by a heart attack in April. God works in very mysterious ways. We went the weekend before he died to celebrate Melissa's 35th Birthday in New York. She was expecting our first grandchild sometime that month. Our entire family was there for this special birthday. At the end of the night Ron had the opportunity to say goodbye to all in the family. We went home to Florida the following night. That night he left me for his place in heaven. He left an unfinished life in many ways. He missed the birth of his Grandaughter. He didn't get to see what a wonderful mother Melissa is or walk Victoria down the aisle. He was not there when my parents died or share in the wonderful everyday events you get to experience when you do finally get to retire. He left me with the legacy of the wonderful memories of a wonderful loving husband who never in 35 years ever said no. He left me two beautiful successful daughters who have a wonderful viewpoint of life....even if they are the policical opposite of Ron, a beautiful Grandaughter Olivia who is a joy in my life. The most important thing he left for me is the fact I actually married my soulmate who taught me the importance of having love and joy in your life. These are everlasting presents that I have and I appreciate what I have everyday because of this wonderful man. He is missed everyday by us. Rest in peace........ we know you are watching over us always. after all the Rays made it to the finals...the Lightning won the Stanley cup....and the Bucs won the Superbowl! his Beloved Wife Sent in by Judy Ruck for Janet Van Natten - Janet has been a good friend since we started high school, we have remained good friends and enjoyed spending time together over the years. I was at her home in MD just two weeks ago, one of her last words to me was that we had a good run as I have had time to reflect we have, we shared the good and bad times and lots of wine and laughter. The last class reunion we had such a great time going down memory lane by riding the circuit in Asbury Park (finally coming back) and just reliving our glory days and we were looking forward to the next one. She leaves behind Mario her loving husband and two daughters Sabrina and Julie. Last updated 10/01/2012 |