Obituary of Thomas J. Cherry

Thomas J. Cherry, 94, of Point Pleasant Beach, passed away, January 2, 2016, stateside, and January 3, 2016, New Zealand time, at his home. Born in Larchmont, NY, to the late Moses and Veronica Cherry, he was raised in Point Pleasant Beach and graduated from Saint Peter Grammar School and Point Pleasant Beach High School, Class of 1941. He then entered the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY and went on to serve during World War II. After his service, he worked as an electrician and founded Cherry Electrical Contractors, Point Pleasant Beach. He married Doris Pegg in 1950. They built their home and had five children. Tom loved Point Pleasant Beach. He was a volunteer fire fighter and was a member of Point Pleasant Beach Fire Co. No. 1. He also was a life member of the Point Pleasant First Aid & Emergency Squad and served with the Point Pleasant Beach Rescue Dive Team. Tom also served on the Point Pleasant Beach Council from 1958-1968; was a member, and past-president, of the Point Pleasant Beach Rotary; and was a member of the Manasquan River Yacht Club. He later married Sheila Stanley and they took many trips together, including a "trip of a lifetime" all though the South Pacific. They had many happy years together. Above all, Tom's favorite pastime was offshore fishing, offshore fishing, offshore fishing, and traveling to go offshore fishing. He was predeceased by his wife, Sheila Stanley; son, Thomas Cherry, Jr.; daughters, Mary Ann and Alyssa Cherry; and granddaughter, Arielle Eytan. He was also predeceased by his brothers, Philip and Joseph Cherry; sisters, Alice Heimbold, Virginia Caverly, and Sally Hall; and his former wife, Doris Pegg Cherry. Surviving, to cherish his memory, are two daughters, Vanessa Cherry Eytan of Toms River and Melissa Cherry of Naples, FL; and two granddaughters, Thea Eytan and Zahava Eytan. Also surviving are his brother, James Cherry; and many nieces, nephews and their families; and good friends. Memorial visitation will be from 6 – 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 8 at the Pable Evertz Funeral Home of Point Pleasant, 901 Beaver Dam Road. At 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan., 9 a Liturgy will be celebrated at Saint Peter Church, 406 Forman Ave. (corner of Saint Louis Ave.) Point Pleasant Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations made in his memory to either the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties www.foodbankmoc.org or to the Jersey Shore Animal Center www.jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org would be appreciated. To share condolences with the family please visit www.pableevertzfuneralhome.com