Gordon R. Mast

Gordon R. Mast

AGE: 69 • West Long Branch

Gordon Richard Oesterle Mast, 69, of West Long Branch, passed away on February 24, 2013 in his home with his loved ones at his side. He battled cancer for 15 years and like a prize fighter beat it too many times to count. He never complained and took each obstacle in stride with a smile on his face, always reassuring his family all would be fine. Gordon was born in Newark, NJ and lived most of his life in Monmouth County. He graduated from Westminster College in Pennsylvania with a BS in History and Monmouth University with a BA in business as well as an MBA in Business. He was the office manager for Central Boiler Repair Company in Oakhurst. Gordon was a man of few words, but always quick with a joke. He possessed a superlative mind and was a voracious reader. His weekly reading would consist of seven magazines, four daily newspapers and two or three books. He had an uncanny ability to absorb knowledge. He was Jeopardy's worst nightmare. A dedicated Giants fan and tailgater, he was a long time season ticket holder who was undaunted by the weather. He was a United State Reservist and a life-long member of the Republican Party for which he was a county member. He held a seat on the West Long Branch Planning Board and a member of the Manasquan River Golf Club. In addition, he was a past president of the Red Bank Exchange Club, received a citation from O'Net and was a donor to countless charities.

Gordon is survived by wife of 44 years, Susan Plancey Mast; his two loving daughters, Christine Haney and her husband Michael; Patricia Pecoraro and her husband Michael; his "adopted" German son Marc who always brightened his days and four grandchildren, the light in his life, Isabella, Sophia, Connor and Bryce. Also surviving are his brother Keith Mast and his wife Joan; his sister Virginia Germano and her husband Dennis, brother-in-law, John Plancey and his wife Cornelia, as well as many nieces, nephews and close friends whose visits meant the worlds to him. He is predeceased by his parents, Richard and Adelaide Mast and his sister Andrea.

No matter how he felt physically, his dedicated and beloved friends Bob and Sonny never let him miss a "Guys Night Out". Thank you to all our family and friends for their constant support and prayers. To all his doctors, we refer to as the "Dream Team" thank you for our 15 years. It would never have been enough time but you blessed us with more than we were supposed to have.

A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, March 2 from 9 am until the time of the funeral service at 11 am at the Damiano Funeral Home, 191 Franklin Ave., (corner of Third Ave.), Long Branch. Interment will be held privately at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to our "Dream Team" - The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 120 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (www.cinjfoundation.org). The family invites you to leave a letter of condolence at www.damianofuneralhome.com.