Jane Magovern

Jane Magovern

Belmar

Jane Magovern, surrounded by her loving family, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, April 16, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Jane, originally from Spring Lake, moved to Belmar in 1974. Jane graduated from St. Catharine's Grammar School of Spring Lake and St. Rose High School of Belmar. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Caldwell College of New Jersey. Following college, Jane proudly taught art to the kindergarten through eighth grades at St. Rose Grammar School for forty years.

Jane will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and friendly hello to all. She was also well known for her commitment to the community in which she lived, for which she received numerous accolades. In 2001, Jane was selected the Belmar Citizen of the Year, and in 2004 Jane was honored to serve as the Deputy Grand Marshall of the Belmar St. Patrick's Day Parade. She was also named the Teacher of the Year in 1997 Diocese of Trenton, and was recognized as a twenty year volunteer at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Jane was always happiest volunteering, and she especially enjoyed working with children, whether it be at the town's Halloween Parade, Easter Egg Hunt or sports awards nights. She was the beloved director of Belmar's summer Arts and Crafts program for 25 years and managed the children's tent at the Belmar Seafood Festival since its inception. While at St. Rose Grammar School, Jane coached both the boys' and girls' track and cross country teams, girls' cheerleading, and girls' basketball. For many years, Jane also coached girls' recreation basketball in Belmar. Legend has it that she received the only technical foul of her coaching career for "delay of game" while she was fixing her players' hair and tucking in their shirts. Accounts differ, but it is generally believed that the referee (and husband) had to make his own meals until he apologized.

Jane enjoyed simple pleasures. She loved to talk and get to know everyone, and she was a master of remembering names, whether it be her students (past and present), their parents, or everyday acquaintances. She loved her Sunday walks on the Belmar boardwalk with her good friends Mary and Janet, stopping repeatedly to catch-up with neighbors and fellow exercisers. She loved Friday nights at Vic's restaurant, enjoying cheese ravioli and a glass of wine (or two). Most of all, though, she loved babysitting for her four beautiful grandchildren, who call her "GiGi."

Jane was predeceased by her parents Walter and Mildred Broderick. She is survived by her husband, Brian; her daughter, Meghann, and her husband, Peter Marturano, and their two children, Drew and Grant; and daughter, Colleen, and her husband, Michael Mangan, and their two children, Rose and Sean. Jane is also survived by her brother, Terry Broderick, and his wife, Kathie, of Charlotte, NC; and her sister, Mary Ellen Paine, and her husband, Stephen, of Charlotte, NC. Very dear to Jane were her many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Special thanks for the constant care of Jane by her sister-in-law, Mary Magovern. Jane will also be sorely missed by her dear friends, Mary Vuono, Janet Grosshandler, Corrine Weinkofsky, Colleen Dillon, Lori Campbell, and Mary Burns; along with the students, teachers, staff, and families of St. Rose and the community of Belmar.

Although Jane loved flowers, in lieu of flowers, donations to the "Jane Magovern Art Scholarship" P.O. Box 141 Belmar, NJ 07719, to benefit St. Rose Grammar School would be most appreciated.

Visitation will be on Monday April 20 from 2 to 8 PM at the Reilly Bonner Funeral Home, 801 D Street , Belmar NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:30AM at the Church of Saint Rose in Belmar. Entombment will follow at Saint Anne Cemetery Mausoleum, Wall Twp. For further information or to send condolences to the family, please visit reillybonnerfuneralhome.com.