Obituaries

GEORGE SALOOM JR., 45, of South Brunswick died March 5 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in New Brunswick, he resided in North Brunswick prior to moving to South Brunswick three years ago. He was an investigator in the detective bureau at North Brunswick Police Department the past 22 years. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church, North Brunswick. He was a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks No. 324, New Brunswick, PBA Local No. 160, North Brunswick, and Police Emerald Society, as well as the North Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company No. 2. He received several commendations for his detective work, including the Exceptional Service Medal, and Life Saving Medal. He was co-founder of the North Brunswick Police, Death, Retirement, Widows and Orphans Fund, was a police artist, and also participated in the search-and-rescue mission at the World Trade Center site. He is survived by his wife and daughter, Carol Mosco Saloom and Samantha Ann Saloom, both at home; and his father, George Saloom, his mother, Connie Leotta Saloom, and his sister, Cindy Saloom, all of North Brunswick. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at Our Lady of Peace Church, North Brunswick. Interment was at Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick.

VICTOR DAVID COSKEY JR., 65, of Colts Neck, died March 1 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pa. Born in New Brunswick, he lived in North Brunswick before moving to Colts Neck 30 years ago. He graduated from New Brunswick High School and the RCA Institute in New York City. He served in the military at Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth where he taught electronics. He worked at Westinghouse Co., where he was instrumental in the development of color television, before starting his own business, Coskey’s Radio & Television Sales and Services, now known as Coskey Electronic Systems, in North Brunswick. He was a choir director for several area churches, including East Brunswick Assembly of God and Freehold Assembly of God. He was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Judy Mae Watson Coskey; one son and daughter-in-law, Victor David III and Tanya Coskey of Tinton Falls; two daughters, Amy Coskey of Freehold and Stephanie Coskey of Red Bank; a brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Diane Coskey of St. Louis; and three grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Full Gospel Church in Wall Township, followed by interment in Van Liew Cemetery, North Brunswick.

CELIA ULAR SHEPSKO, 90, of East Brunswick died March 8 in Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge division. Her husband, Paul Shepsko, died in 1963. Surviving are three sons, Edward of North Brunswick, Paul of East Brunswick and Eugene of Spotswood; a sister, Edna Ejk of South River; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Mary of Ostrabrama Church, South River. Interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, East Brunswick.

ESTELLE E. VALONE SUPER, 90, of Milltown died March 4 in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. She was predeceased by her husband, Frank, and by a granddaughter, Catherine Gschwend. Surviving are four daughters, Catherine Gschwend of East Brunswick, Estelle Pagano of Milltown, Mary Diem of South River and Linda Bezek of the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick; a son, Frank Super of East Brunswick; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Milltown. Interment was in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick.

STEVEN J. EPSTEIN, 21, of the Parlin section of Old Bridge died March 8 as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was a 2000 graduate of Old Bridge High School and had attended Middlesex County College, Edison. He was employed as a check processor with First Union Bank, North Brunswick. Surviving are his parents, Richard J. and Carolyn Mileto Epstein, with whom he lived; two brothers, Michael and Christopher Epstein, both of Parlin; and his paternal grandparents, Robert and Kitty Epstein of Tamarac, Fla. A Mass was offered at St. Bernadette’s Church, Parlin. Interment was in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick.

VITO WILLIAM ANCONA, 79, of North Brunswick died March 3 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in Akron, Ohio, he resided in New Brunswick prior to moving to North Brunswick 60 years ago. He was the retired manager of the sanitation department for North Brunswick. Previously, he owned a barbershop in New Brunswick for several years. He served with the U.S. Navy in World War II. He was a member of Clark-Moetz Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2319, Milltown. He is survived by his former wife, Elizabeth Caccioppo Ancona of North Brunswick; two sons, William Ancona of Piscataway, and Stephen Ancona of Huntersville, N.C.; his brother, Fred Ancona of East Brunswick; and one granddaughter. A funeral service was held at Chapel of Serenity Mausoleum, Franklin Memorial Park, North Brunswick.

BERTHA M. STANWYCK, 76, of North Brunswick died March 2 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in Belleville, she resided in New Brunswick before moving to North Brunswick in 1969. She was a member of the North Brunswick Senior Center. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Anthony Stanwyck of North Brunswick; two daughters and one son-in-law, Robin Kahora of North Brunswick, and Karen and Ed Liebhauser of Huntington Beach, Calif.; two sons, Robert Stanwyck of North Brunswick, and Gordon Stanwyck of Milltown; a brother, Harry Mueller of Belleville; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Burial was at Van Liew Cemetery, North Brunswick. Memorial donations may be made to the North Brunswick First Aid and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7043, North Brunswick, 08902.

ELIZABETH J. "BETTY" LYON, 55, of North Brunswick died March 6 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., she lived most of her life in North Brunswick. She was a distribution coordinator at Guest Supply Inc., North Brunswick and Sayreville, the past 10 years. She was predeceased by her son, Joe Lyon in 2002. She is survived by her husband, William "Tim" Lyon of North Brunswick; two daughters, Marybeth Caruso of Manalapan, and Allison Parajon of South Plainfield; three sisters, Dorothy McPherson of Roswell, Ga., Margaret Czapiga of Monroe, and Joan Murray of Virginia Beach, Va.; her brother, James Murray of North Brunswick; and three grandchildren.