Edward A. Tarsa Jr.

TARSA, EDWARD ALOYSIUS JR., 79, of Avalon, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, September 21, 2012. Born on August 11, 1933 in Mahanoy City, PA to the late Edward A. and Anna (Munley) Tarsa, he and his wife Regina followed their life-long love of the Jersey shore and retired to Avalon in 1985 from Honolulu, HI after previously living in Springfield, PA, Parsippany, NJ and Cranbury, NJ. Growing up in Northeast Philadelphia as part of a large extended family, Ed attended St. Timothy's Catholic School, graduated from LaSalle High School in 1951, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Temple University in 1955, where he competed in collegiate swimming and diving. As a shore lifeguard during his college years, Ed became a Lieutenant on the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol. After college, he served in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps (Reserves,) earning the rank of Captain, and began his business career at Baker and Adamson Chemicals in Marcus Hook, PA, later becoming a Director at Allied Chemical Corporation in Morristown, NJ. In the late 1970's, Ed became a distribution manager for Amway Corporation, later becoming the President of Hawaii Distribution Corporation in Honolulu, during which time he participated as a member of a business delegation to China. He also earned professional recognition as a graduate of the Academy of Advanced Traffic. He was a member of Rotary International, Kiwanis Club, Elks Lodge, the Navy League of Honolulu, the Lions Club in Cranbury, and the American Legion in Stone Harbor. Ed was a long time member of St. Brendan the Navigator Parish Maris Stella Catholic Church in Avalon and the Knights of Columbus. Ed loved being a 'Member in Good Standing' and served as Treasurer of the OFAA Men's Golf League at Avalon Golf Club. He enjoyed cooking, gardening, golfing, landscaping, fishing, and volunteering at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 52 years, Regina (Donohoe) Tarsa. He is survived by his three children: Ted Tarsa and wife Carol Lynn of Cape May Court House, NJ, Patrice Sullins of Virginia Beach, VA, and Christopher Tarsa of Severna Park, MD; his grandchildren: Courtney and Trevor Tarsa, Alexander and Tara Ardavanis, and Paul and Ryan Tarsa; his sister Peggy Ann Jablonski and husband John; his brother-in-law Tom Donohoe and wife Meta, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and life-long friends. The family greatly appreciates the care received from Gloria Asare and Holy Redeemer Hospice, especially Janet Stutzman. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Brendan the Navigator Parish Maris Stella Church, 50th Street and Dune Drive, Avalon, where visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Catholic Charities – Cape May County, 1304 Route 47 South, P.O. Box 232, Rio Grande, NJ 08242.