Joseph Szark, Jr. Jr.

Joseph Szark, Jr, 90, of Ship Bottom passed away at home on July 29, 2025. Joe was born to Joseph and Anna Szark and raised in New Brunswick, NJ. He resided in Milltown and North Brunswick before permanently moving to Long Beach Island. He served in the U.S. Army and worked for 32 years for the New Brunswick Police Department, retiring in 1991 as a Sergeant. Although retired, he still found himself retiring two more times. He loved his job at Tara Greens Golf Course in Somerset cutting the grass and maintaining the grounds and worked security for 10 years for Magyar Bank where he became a friend to many.

In his younger years, he coached his children's baseball and softball teams and played himself for one year in the Minor Leagues for the Pittsburg Pirates Organization. Sports and family were his passions. As he got older, Joe and his wife enjoyed spending their months between New Jersey and Puerto Rico. The Ship Bottom man we all knew had a cigar in his mouth, and occasion Miller Lite in his hand and always read his morning newspaper. Joe was a parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Brant Beach.

He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, JoAnn Szark. He is survived by his son, Joseph Szark, III and his wife Krista and daughter, Joelle Maier and her husband Steve along with his grandchildren Jonathan, William, Madeleine, Emma and Lily.

A Remembrance Liturgy will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 11:30 am at St. Thomas of Aquinas Church, 2nd and Atlantic Ave, Beach Haven, NJ 08008. Burial was private at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, NJ. Arrangements are under the direction of Bugbee-Riggs Funeral Home, 1119 Long Beach Blvd, Ship Bottom, NJ 08008.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to Rutgers Cancer Institute. Make check payable to RUF-CINJ and mail to CINJ Development (Philanthropy) Office, PO Box 193, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Please indicate that the gift is in memory of Mr. Joseph Szark, Jr. Donations can be made also online at https://give.rutgersfoundation.org/fund-for-cinj/14899.html