Richard A. Braks

Richard A. (Richie) Braks

AGE: 68 • Pine Beach

Richard A. (Richie) Braks, 68, of Pine Beach, died on Tuesday at home in the presence of his beloved wife and close family members. He had sustained a major stroke nearly two years ago. Born in Yonkers, N.Y., on Nov. 14, 1946, to Edward and Martha Reynolds Braks, Richie was a graduate of Sacred Heart High School and studied business at Manhattan College in New York. He married his high-school sweetheart, Barbara Rohan, on June 26, 1971, and they moved to New Jersey in 1975. He owned an auto repair and service garage in Ocean Gate, and later joined the Ocean County Parks Dept. After retiring, he worked at Forge Pond Golf Course in Brick, where he was a very popular and effective starter and ranger.

Richie was an avid reader and very knowledgeable about wide-ranging subjects such as politics, American coins, Zippo lighters, carpentry and machinery, as well as antique engines and mini-bikes, both of which he was fond of building. A motorcycle enthusiast, he was an avid Harley Davidson fan, and he and his wife often rode their bikes around Ocean County and in the Hobe Sound, FL area where they spent winters in recent years. In his leisure time, he was a meticulous and creative wood worker and mechanic and lovingly restored vintage Corvettes and other special cars to pristine condition. Generous with his talents, he took pleasure in helping relatives choose the right car to buy. Richie also enjoyed building handsome sheds for gardening, carpentry and machinery supplies, garden beds for vegetables, and a playhouse for a great-niece. Richard was a long-time member of the Ocean County Mosquito Commission and had been a member of the Pine Beach Planning Board and Republican Club.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his brother, Edward (Fran) Braks of Wallace, N.C., and his sister, Elaine (Neil) Ginsberg of Mount Kisco, N.Y. Richie was loved as a brother by his wife's siblings: Susan (John) Garvey, Sharon (Jack) McMahon, Tricia (George) Tunick, Bob (Jackie) Rohan, Judy (Henry) Steiner, Kathy (Charlie) Byrnes, Glenn (Stacy) Rohan and D'Arcy (Peter) Green. Also surviving are 17 nieces and nephews, three great-nieces and two great-nephews, as well as three godchildren.

As Richie worked to recover from the stroke, his wife, Barbara, was his prime caregiver. She was helped by caring physicians, health care workers, therapists and aides, including Dr. John Radomski, Christie McGovern, Kerry Brennan, Gila Rosen, Jackie Augustensen and Gary Thomas.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Friday, Feb 20 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main St., Toms River. A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, Feb 21 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Barnabas Church, 33 Woodland Rd., Bayville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Richie's name to Beachwood First Aid Squad, 4 Beachwood Blvd., Beachwood, N.J., 08722, or to Our Lady of Lourdes Liver Transplant Program, 1601 Haddon Avenue, Camden, N.J. 08103.Please visit www.andersonandcampbell.com for more information.