John Peter Gildea

(Asbury Park Press)

JOHN PETER GILDEA
AGE: 96 SEA GIRT
John Peter Gildea, 96, of Sea Girt, died Wednesday, May 26, 2010, at Meridian Subacute Rehabilitation, Wall, surrounded by his loving family. Born in New York City, John lived in Bronx, N.Y. before moving to Teaneck, where he attended St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Bogota. While a parishioner of St. Joseph's, he was president of the Holy Name Society and developed the parish's CCD Program into a full school of religion. He was active in the Player's Guild and the Knights of Columbus. In 1974, they moved to Sea Girt and became an active member of St. Mark's Church, where he was active in the Evangelization Program and the Holy Name Society. He was a graduate of Manhattan College, Class of 1936, where he was a member of it's Honor Fraternity, Epsilon Sigma Pi. He began his career as an accountant with Caltex Oil Company. He joined the war effort as a Special Agent with the Treasury Department as Special Agent in Foreign Funds Control. He retired as supervisor and special agent in the Internal Revenue Service after 30 years to accept an assignment as Special Agent with the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation where he served until 1976.
John was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Mary Ellen Kean Gildea; his brother, William Gildea; and his sisters, Anne Maguire and Rose Reichert. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary O'Day Gildea; three daughters, Mary Cashman, Barbara Grosso, and Jeanne Gildea; 10 grandchildren, James, Gregory, Kevin and Timothy Cashman, Maureen Cashman Klein, Frank, Robert, Christopher, Charles and Paul Grosso; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Friends are invited to call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 28 at the O'Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Highway 35, Wall. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 29 at St. Mark's Catholic Church, 215 Crescent Parkway, Sea Girt. Entombment will follow in St. Catharine's Mausoleum, Wall. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either Manhattan College, 4513 Manhattan College Parkway, Riverdale, NY 10471 or Christian Brothers Academy, Newman Springs Road, Lincroft. For more information and condolences, please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com.