Eugene Gaeta

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Eugene "Gene" R. Gaeta, 78 years old of Manasquan passed peacefully on December 13, 2021 at home surrounded by his family after a long battle with diabetes related complications. Born October 5, 1943, in Hoboken, NJ, Gene graduated from Seton Hall Prep in South Orange, NJ in 1961. He attended Seton Hall University participating in the ROTC program, and received his BA and MA degrees in 1965 and 1967, respectively, and in 2006 Gene earned his PhD in Psychology from the University of Wyoming. Gene honorably served his country as an officer in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war, stationed at the Oakland Overseas Replacement Center and the 6th Army Headquarters at the Presidio in San Francisco, California. He was discharged as a Captain and began his career at Bell Laboratories in their management and development training program. Gene had varied assignments, culminating as a career counseling specialist. In 1979 he was promoted to District manager at AT&T in the Medical Department at Basking Ridge, NJ. He progressed to the position of Director of AT&T's Counseling Program, and retired with 30 years of service in 1999.
Gene and his wife Loretta spent 27 years raising their family in Florham Park, NJ, where they developed many cherished friendships. In 1998 they retired to Manasquan NJ, where they lived for the past 23 years. In retirement, Gene was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He especially enjoyed spending time with his 9 granddaughters and lived to make them laugh. Attending their games, meets, recitals and plays over the years brought him great joy. He was a passionate sport fan and followed his beloved Seton Hall Pirates and New York Yankees intently. Gene loved traveling, dining out and sitting on the beach. He was the Patriarch of his family, was well-loved and will be dearly missed.
Gene was predeceased by his parents, Anna and Ralph Gaeta, brother Joseph, sister Marianne Torres and sister-in-law Kathleen Finnerty. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Loretta of 55 years, daughter Stephanie Carson (Kevin), sons Gene Jr. (Megan) and Christopher (Elizabeth), 9 granddaughters Madeline (21), Elizabeth (20), Abigail (20), Catherine (19), Grace (18), Rose (15), Sophie (13), Emily (13) and Caitlin (10), brother Ralph (Kathy), sister Alice (Robert), sister-in-laws Margaret, Marion, and brother-in-law and lifelong friend Salvatore.
Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Sunday, December 19th from 3 pm - 7 pm at Orender Family Home for Funerals, 2643 Old Bridge Rd., Manasquan, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, December 20th at 11:00 am at The Church of St. Martha, 3800 Herbertsville Road, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, https://www.diabetes.org/ways-to-give or to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, https://giving.mskcc.org/. To send condolences please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net.