Maria D. Fernandes

Maria D. Fernandes

AGE: 59 • Former Sea Bright Mayor

Maria D. Fernandes, 59, of Sea Bright, died peacefully on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center, Long Branch. Maria was born in Elizabeth and had lived in Sea Bright since 1989. She was a graduate of St. Patrick Grammar School, Battin High School both in Elizabeth and Brookdale Community College, Lincroft. Maria was a supervisor for Delta Import and Export in New York City and for SS White-Pennwalt Dental Company in Holmdel. She was unselfishly dedicated to both the people and the town of Sea Bright as a member of the Planning Board, member of the City Council and Council President, and as Mayor of Sea Bright. She was proud to be the first Portuguese-American female mayor in the state of New Jersey and the third in the United States. She's credited with helping to obtain $1.5 million in state grants to upgrade the Sea Bright sewer system and $1 million in grants to improve downtown Sea Bright's infrastructure. She loved being able to help others and make even the smallest of differences. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Sea Bright Fire Department; the Sea Bright Senior Citizens and a communicant of Holy Cross R.C. Church in Rumson.

Maria was predeceased by her father Ernest Fernandes and her maternal grandmother, Jesuina Diaz. Surviving is her mother Adelina Fernandes of Sea Bright.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday March 3, 2012 at 11 am at Holy Cross R.C. Church, 30 Ward Ave, Rumson. Damiano Funeral Home, Long Branch, is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 740 Broad Street, Suite 4, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702. The family invites you to leave an online condolence at www.damianofuneralhome.com.