Stephen Warren Atkins

Stephen Warren Atkins

AGE: 65 • Wall

Stephen Warren Atkins, 65, of Manasquan Park, died suddenly at home on Thursday. Born in Richmond, Indiana, he grew up in Teaneck, NJ, and lived in Manasquan Park since 1977. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a bachelor's degree in education, and taught high school one year before accepting a summer job selling insurance with Prudential. He proceeded to work 28 years as an insurance broker with Prudential, retiring young enough to pursue his passions on land and sea. A charter sailboat captain and sailing instructor, Steve was at home on the sea. He skippered sloops up to 65 feet through the Greek Isles and British Virgin Isles. He taught hundreds of adults and children to sail at the New Jersey Sailing School, Brick, and instructed US Coast Guard Captain's License courses. He sailed his own boat, the Hannah Belle, named after his two granddaughters, extensively off the NY/NJ coast. Over the last four years he poured his heart into building a cabin near Asheville, NC, on a mountain he shared with his son. As was his style, he took his time and lovingly designed every aspect of the cabin, and his mark can be seen in details such as the way the sun shines through the hand-carved railings. He loved to sit on the deck of his cabin with his family, listening to bluegrass music, watching the horses graze or the sun set over the mountains. He played soccer in high school, college, and then well into his 50s, coached his son's and grandson's teams, as well as many Wall Township recreational and travel teams from 1978, on and off until just recently. He was passionate about soccer, and loved to talk strategy and skills all week in preparation for a game. Upon hanging up his own soccer cleats, he threw his passion into platform tennis and played for many years on the men's and mixed paddle leagues at the Atlantic Club in Wall Township, commissioning the men's league for a time.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lori and John Quigley, Rumson; a son and daughter-in-law, Stephen Atkins and Terry Kozak, Weaverville, NC, two grandsons, Evan Quigley and Mason Atkins; two granddaughters, Hannah Quigley and Lyla Belle Atkins; his sister, June Juday, of New Paris, OH; and two brothers, Larry Atkins of Florida, and Tom Atkins of Plafftown, NC; and many nieces and nephews.

Visiting will be Saturday, from 12:30pm until the service at 2pm at O'Brien Funeral Home, Wall. For more information or to send condolences please visit www.obrienfu neralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Clean Ocean Action (cleanocean action.org).