Obituaries

R.I.P. Robert “Bob” Critides

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Last month, the club lost long time member, Bob Critides, who left us way too soon. Bob’s wife, Patti, his sister Liz and his mom, Bammie, all bowled in the Commonwealth Club Women’s Bowling League and were regulars at Mixed Bowling and other Club events. Bob could be curmudgeonly, but he truly loved this Club, was deeply involved in many of our social events, and his team, the Seagulls, are the reigning Club bowling league champions.

Sadly, he has left behind three young sons, and a fund has been set up by the family to help with their future education. Please consider supporting this worthy cause by visiting this site and being as generous as you can:

https://www.youcaring.com/roberacritidesmemorialfund-908956

Funeral Mass Saturday for Club Member Gary Venner

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Gary Venner w grand (1)

A Mass of the Resurrection for Gary Venner, Sr., 61, a longtime Commonwealth Club member and lifelong Verona resident, will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, in Our Lady of the Lake Church, Verona.

He died Oct. 10 in HackensackUMC Mountainside. There will be no visitation.

A repast will be held at the Commonwealth Club immediately after the funeral.

Gary was a member of the Commonwealth Club for more than 12 years. His Ruhks teams won club championships in the 2004-05 and 2007-08 seasons.

Gary was a sales representative for Metals USA in Newark. He was a graduate of Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), a member of the Knoll Golf Club in Boonton, and a devoted fan of the Giants and Mets. He was born in Amityville, N.Y.

Surviving are his beloved wife, Jeanne (nee Gregory) Venner; his loving children, Gary R. Venner Jr. and his wife, Jessica, and Brian G. Venner and his wife, Shannon, and grandchildren, Samantha Marie and Edward Paul Venner. Gary is also survived by his brothers, William R. Venner and Steven Venner.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests donations in Gary’s memory to the American Childhood Cancer Organization at acco.org.

Obituary: John Heyrich of Upper Montclair

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John was a beloved member of the Club for 56 years
John was a beloved member of the Club for 56 years.
“One of our stalwart old guard has shed his mortal coil. John Heyrich, whose friendly visage is on a plaque in the red room, passed away this morning. John was a friend to all and a gentleman through and through. We have lost a prince of a man.” – Rich McMahon

John’s obituary:
John Joseph Heyrich, 91, of Upper Montclair, passed away Thursday September 18th, 2014. Visiting will be on Friday September 19th from 2-4pm & 7-9pm at Caggiano Memorial, 62 Grove St, Montclair. A funeral service will be held on Saturday September 20th, 2014 at 9:30am at the funeral home, Interment at Mount Hebron Cemetery, Upper Montclair.

John is a lifelong resident of Montclair and the owner of the, John Heyrich Inc. plumbing company in Montclair, a member of the PHCC of NJ, the Commonwealth Club of Upper Montclair , and a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Montclair. He was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Army as a surveyor and engineer serving in the invasion of Normandy, and an active supporter of Carson Long Military Academy in Pennsylvania where he attended High School. John also recieved an Associates Degree from Clarkson University in New York.

John Heyrich (left) at the 2014 Beefsteak Dinner
John Heyrich (left) at the 2014 Beefsteak Dinner
John is predeceased by his wife, Janice Barbara (nee Galway) in 1983 and is survived by his children, John Joseph Heyrich Jr. and his wife Katherine, Robert James Heyrich and his wife Sandra, and Susan Gail Bennett and her husband Alan, eight grandchildren, John Joseph Heyrich III, Travis Martin Heyrich , Robert James Heyrich Jr., Heather Allison Heyrich, Andrew Kevin Heyrich, Brooke Meier, Ashley Bennett, Erin Bennett and two great grandchildren , Hope and Anderson.

Memorials in lieu of flowers to the American Cancer Society, cancer.org, would be appreciated.