Loss It has been a tough month for Atlantic Highlands as well as the entire Henry Hudson Regional School community wot the deaths of three well loved and devoted men who carved special places in the hearts of the community.
Former Atlantic Highlands Mayor Robert Schoeffling , and Henry Hudson regional school retired teachers Vincent Whitehead and Peter Lardieri all died within weeks and whose funeral services are all within days of each other.
Visitation for Mayor Bob will be on Friday, January 9 at the Posten McGinley Funeral Home from 3 to 7 P.M. A funeral service will take place Saturday at 9 a.m. at the United Methodist Church followed by interment at 11 a.m. at Cedarwood Cemetery in Hazlet. The family has invited all to attend visitation and services as signs of remembrance and love for the former mayor.
“Coach” Arthur Vincent “Vinnie” Whitehead, beloved family man, coach, and youth pastor died Jan 3 at age 73 following a swift battle with esophageal cancer.
Described as a devoted husband and father, as well as family man, the Coach was also a passionate mentor to countless students and youth.
Born Dec 3, 1952, in Anchorage, Alaska, Coach Whithead earned his degree in Health and Physical Education from Brookdale and Furman University where he was part of their baseball programs, He spent his career teaching and coaching at Henry Hudson Regional School for 44 passionate years.
Coach impacted multiple generations of students with his unwavering integrity, and commitment to making everyone the best they could be- on and off the field and classroom. He coached cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, and field hockey at Hudson, Brookdale’s basketball program, and countless AAU and travel teams, camps, and recreation programs, creating lasting bonds with his students and players that have turned into family.
Vinnie was a faithful servant to his Lord and savior, Jesus Christ with a faith that was a cornerstone of his life, and a driving passion for local and international missions work. He spent many years helping communities in need through his church and organizations including Fellowship Of Christian Athletes, which allowed him to share his faith and sports knowledge around the globe. He has enjoyed decades of service as an Elder and Youth Pastor at Calvary Chapel Crossfields in Jamesburg.
The coach also loved to read, was an avid fan of college basketball (especially March Madness) and the New York Yankees. He loved spending time with his family, always cracking a joke or up to a prank, rarely seeing him without a smile and taking the prize for always being the silliest in any situation. There was no one more loyal, trustworthy, and devoted as a husband, father, mentor, or friend.
Vinnie is survived by his dedicated wife Maria of 45 years, his daughter Ashley, his brother Cliff and his wife Marybeth with their sons Jonathan, Gabriel, Joshua, and Caleb, his sister Carolyn and her children Michael and Emily., brother- in-law Vinny and his wife Barbara and their children Chrissy and Jimmy, bother-in-law Joey and wife Tina and their children Joey, Michael, David, and Maria as well as many great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Arthur and Anna Whitehead.
A celebration of Coach’s life will be held at Posten McGinley Funeral Home on Tuesday Jan. 6 from 4 to 7pm and Wednesday, Jan 7 for a Chapel Service at 10am. Graveside commitment at Monmouth Memorial Park to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory to The Fellowship of Christian Athletes New Jersey. https://www.fcanj.org/donate
Retired teacher Peter J. Lardieri, 80, of Bradenton, Fla died December 21. Born and raised in Newark, Mr. Lardieri graduated from St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in 1962 and from Colby College in 1966. While at Colby, he was a Dean’s List student and was selected as an All-Conference baseball player. He earned his master’s degree from Boston University in 1968, graduating with high honors and was selected as one of three Gillette Teaching Fellows.
A highly respected educator, he taught mathematics for 36 years at Henry Hudson Regional School, retiring in 2004. For much of his tenure, he served as mathematics supervisor as well as coaching 49 various seasons in baseball, softball, field hockey and chess. He was twice selected as the school’s “Teacher of the Year.” He was always willing to help students, colleagues and friends when they asked for advice.
Mr. Lardieri played semi-pro baseball for Ye Cottage Inn in the Jersey Shore League and, in its 1970 championship season, was elected the team’s “Most Valuable Player.” He played many years of softball in various leagues around the Shore and served four years as a volunteer coach for the Bayshore Youth Athletic Association, two years for the Middletown Youth Athletic Association, and eight years as Fall League coach for Christian Brothers Academy. His teams won six championships and ten tournaments, and he was most proud of his 1987 BYAA NJ state champion team.
In 2006 he retired to Bradenton, FL, where he developed an avid interest in golf. He played as often as possible and, by his own account, was “an enthusiastic, but mediocre player.”
He was predeceased by his parents Angelo and Mary Grande Lardieri, his sisters Dolores Saxe, Assunta Flannery Ege, and Josephine Lardieri, and three brothers-in-law, John P. Flannery, Robert Saxe, and Karl Ege. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Diane, their two children and their spouses, three adored grandchildren, and eleven nieces and nephews.
There was a life celebration on Dec. 30 at the Raritan Valley Country Club, in Bridgewater. NJ.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Henry Hudson Regional Education Association Scholarship Fund, 1 Grand Tour, Highlands, NJ 07732; or to the charity of your choice.
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