Daniel H. Gendel

1945 - 2018

Daniel H. Gendel

Belmar - Daniel Gendel died peacefully at home on Monday, May 7th, surrounded by his loving family. Dan was born on September 22, 1945, in Newark, NJ. He was raised in West Orange until age 12, when his family moved to the Jersey Shore and Dan embraced beach living. Dan graduated from Asbury Park High School in 1963. He majored in Economics at Michigan State University, graduating in 1967, and he earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1970. Dan started out practicing law, while also helping to run his family business, Ocean Electric, in Ocean Township. In 1977, Dan struck out on his own, starting his own law practice in Red Bank, which he maintained for over 40 years. In addition to his practice, Dan gave lectures on family law through the Monmouth County Public Library and provided free legal counsel to underserved individuals. For many years he derived joy from teaching ESL to families at Belmar Elementary School, and he was dedicated to social, environmental, and political causes.

Dan loved life. He made a point to honor each moment with family and friends, always pointing out his good fortune to have his life filled with wonderful people, love, and laughter. Dan had many passions, among them were tennis, fishing, swimming in the ocean, traveling, playing the piano, music, dancing, grilling up the most perfectly cooked salmon, having family parties, long walks on the boardwalk with his wife, dining out at local Jersey Shore establishments, completing the Sunday NY Times crossword puzzle (in ink!) and Killer Scrabble. A most treasured tradition was spending summer vacations on Martha's Vineyard with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Most recently, Dan loved singing and playing piano in his band at the Lakehouse Music Academy.

Dan is survived by his wife of thirty years, Maria "Terry" Hennessy; daughter, Julie Gendel, Montclair, NJ; son, Scott Gendel, Mount Horeb, WI; stepson, John Hennessy, Amherst, MA; stepdaughters, Mary Pearce (Daniel Pearce), Brielle, Patty Hennessy (Bryan Sproat), NY, NY, Kathleen McGee (Thomas McGee), Freehold, and Lisa Hennessy, NY, NY; and all of his loving grandchildren, Lotte and Twyla, Nicholas and Gabriel, Patrick and Caroline, Maggie, and Quinn, Cass, Cal, and Lucy. His smile will forever be imprinted on our hearts.

Dan's family will be sitting shiva at their home at 207 4th Ave, Belmar, on Tuesday, May 8th, from 6-8 PM. There will be a celebration of his life at the Belmar Taylor Pavilion, 500 Ocean Avenue, on Wednesday, May 9th, from 3-6 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dan's name to the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St, Philadelphia, PA, 19102.