Memorial Trees
A
Anonymous
July 05, 2025
Memorial trees planted for:
William J. Gearty
<p><p>William J. Gearty, September 9, 1931 to July 2, 2025. William died peacefully in his home on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, surrounded by family.</p><p><br></p><p>He graduated from St. Aloysius Grammar School, Caldwall, New Jersey where he served as Class President. He attended St. Benedict's Prep, Newark, New Jersey for one semester and then enrolled at St. Rose High School, Belmar, New Jersey when the family moved to Spring Lake.</p><p><br></p><p>During High School, he served as Class President for Junior and Senior Years. He was the Editor-in-Chief of "The Courier", the school newspaper and of "Bel-Rose" the school's yearbook. He wrote a regular column for the Belmar Leg, a periodical. Bill was a member of the 1949 basketball team which won the school's first state championship. He graduated with honors. </p><p><br></p><p>He represented Belmar in the American Legion's New Jersey Boys' State week-long summer program at Rutgers University. Over many summers, he was employed at the South End Bathing Pavilion, Spring Lake, as a locker boy, a lifeguard, a gate-keeper and an office clerk. He also sold bibles as a door-to-door salesman. </p><p><br></p><p>He enrolled at Holy Cross College, Worcester, Massachusetts where he served as the president of the New Jersey Club. He graduated "cum laude". </p><p><br></p><p>He graduated from Georgetown Law School, Washington, D.C. where he received his Juris Doctor degree. During his attendance at law school, he was employed as a police officer on the United States Capitol Police Force. He later served as a policeman on the Police Force of the United States Supreme Court. </p><p><br></p><p>He was admitted to the Bars of the District of Columbia and of the State of New Jersey. He practiced as a civil and criminal trial lawyer in the Newark, NJ law office of the late Thomas E. Durkin, Jr. </p><p><br></p><p>He was appointed as attorney-in-charge of the Monmouth County Trial Office of the newly created Statewide Public Defender's System, where he served for 18 years. He also maintained an office for private practice in his hometown of Spring Lake, NJ. In 2017, the Monmouth Bar Association conferred upon him its award for professionalism. </p><p><br></p><p>He met and married the former Mary Margaret Campbell of Kearny, New Jersey. This marriage was blessed with the birth of their son, William F. Gearty. </p><p><br></p><p>He and Mary served for 31 years as the host couple of the Annual Joseph P. Nugent Golf Tournament and Dinner run at the Spring Lake Golf Club for the benefit of Covenant House. Bill and Mary also served as the Monmouth County host couple of the Trenton Diocese Pre Cana program. Bill served as Trustee and Secretary of the Spring Lake Golf Club. He served as Troop Chairman and Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 21, B.S.A. He actively participated in the Holy Cross President's Council. He enriched the cultural lives of fellow classmates, alumni, attorneys and board walkers with stirring recitations of "Casey at the Bat" and "The Shooting of Dan McGroo" at meetings of their groups. He was Chairman of the Motto Committee of both the South Monmouth Bar Association and of the Spring Lake Boardwalkers' Association. </p><p><br></p><p>He was predeceased by his parents, William A. and Gladys (Hoage) Gearty, by a twin brother, who died at birth, by a brother, Bernard, who died in infancy, and by a brother Ronald and a sister-in-law, Nancy (Karl) Gearty. </p><p><br></p><p>He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary Margaret (Campbell) Gearty, their son, Bill and daughter-in-law, Molly (Blecka) Gearty; grandchildren, Maeve and Robert Gearty and by his sister Maureen A. Gearty, Spring Lake. </p><p><br></p><p>Williams funeral mass will be held in St. Catharine Church, 215 Essex Ave, Spring Lake, NJ 07762 on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in St. Catharine Cemetery, 1100 W Chicago Blvd., Sea Girt, NJ 08750. All arrangements are under the direction of O’Brien Funeral Home. For information, directions, or condolence messages to the family, please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com. </p><p><br></p></p>September 9, 1931 - July 2, 202509/09/193107/02/2025
Share Obituary: