HOWARD BENNETT

To family and friends, Howard Bennett was simply Howard. But there’s nothing simple about being a hero.

The 60-year-old Camden firefighter died in the line of duty on Feb. 5. Messages attached to his obituary poured in.

“They don’t make many like him!” noted the Cichon families.  

“It was an absolute honor to serve alongside Howard in the fire service,” posted fellow Camden firefighter Capt. Carlos Colon. “In a job that asks so much of a person, he showed up every day with courage; integrity; and a deep sense of commitment, not just to the community, but to the crew.”

“He was many things to many people: a firefighter of 26 years, a husband, a father, a protector, a teammate, a brother and a friend,” his obituary explains. “But to his family, he was simply Howard, a steady presence whose love and care made life feel safer just by being there.”

A talented carpenter, Howard was known for using that skill – and his patience – to help others. 

“Life skills by Uncle Howard” is how the father of two was known by his children, numerous nieces and nephews and friends. Pat and Rich Hochstuhl recalled how their sons would visit Howard’s home to play, but not until he schooled them in some “life skills.”

Theresa and Mike Vassalotti told a story about how Howard borrowed their tent, one that was “not a pretty sight” whenever they stuffed it back into its packaging after use. Howard, they marveled, “returned the tent in a custom-made crate with a hinged top!!! Who does that!?” 

Howard the firefighter was a man who knew his crew, knew his fireboat – #1 – knew his trainees, knew his command. And left behind men he mentored. 

“He carried a level of knowledge you don’t learn from a book,” his family recounted. “He learned it from years of hard work, dedication and love for this profession … Howard’s legacy lives on in the firefighters he trained, the standards he set and the brotherhood he strengthened.”

He also – as Toni McVeigh put it – “left a trail of beautiful memories.”

Source: Mark C. Tilghman Funeral Home, Legacy.com

EILEEN MAY GOODMAN-THARP 

Not long after Eileen Goodman-Tharp died at 66, the Harrison Recreation Commission issued a statement that focused on her work in its summer camp for kids.

“ … Her warm spirit, patience and genuine love for children made her an irreplaceable part of our summer camp family,” it read. “Year after year, Eileen showed up with a smile, a kind word and an unwavering commitment to making every child’s summer experience memorable and meaningful.”

Eileen’s commitment was also felt at Aura Elementary School in Glassboro, where she spent 45 years as a teacher, according to her obituary. Dawn Williams was also an educator there and worked with Eileen for more than 33 of those years.

“She always put her students first,” Williams recalled, “whether she was a classroom teacher or a specialist.”

Adrienne Lugo was also a fellow teacher.

“Eileen was an outgoing, kind person who absolutely LOVED teaching and her community,” Lugo recounted in an online post accompanying her friend’s all-too-soon obituary.

In her spare time, Eileen could be found in Wildwood and Stone Harbor, fed by memories of fishing and crabbing with her father, her obit says. She walked the boards up and back every morning.

But it was always about the kids. Williams remembered the special attention Eileen gave to planning her school’s annual Veterans Day celebration, with its patriotic songs and inspirational readings. 

The coffee and doughnuts were a bonus.

“It was always a wonderful experience for everyone who attended,” Williams commented.

“Generations of students were touched by her patience, kindness and unwavering love for learning,” Eileen’s family noted. “Teaching was more than a career – it was her calling.”

That calling directed Eileen to Rowan University, where she earned master’s in education, with specialization as a librarian. It was the start of a life-long career. 

Eileen’s summer camp work began in the 1990s, according to the recreation commission’s statement, which also had a message for her family:  

“ … Please know that Eileen’s legacy lives on in every child she inspired, every life she touched and every memory she helped create.”

Sources: Echovita.com, Barclay Funeral Home

Inside the obits
A century plus

If you read the obits regularly – as we do – there is proof that people are living longer. Hitting 100 is a milestone, but it is not uncommon these days. Here are four South Jerseyans who made it beyond the century mark.

The seventh of eight children, Helen Centinaro made it to 102. A mother of three, she worked on aircraft parts during World War II in Pennsylvania, where she met her husband of 69 years, according to her obituary. Known as “nonna” to her children and grandchildren, Helen was a beloved hostess and cook “who always made room at her table.”

Theopolis Edward Briddell wasaveteran of World War II in the Pacific who later worked for the U.S. Postal Service and as a bus driver, his obituary notes. A lover of bowling and fishing, he also painted on canvas and rooted for the Phillies. He will be remembered, his family says, for his faith, his warm greetings and his “unforgettable laugh.” And for feeling blessed with longevity “until his last day” – at 103.

Ann M. Bruff passed away at 101, leaving behind three children and five grandchildren. The wife of a World War II vet, she was employed during the war at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and retired from a job manning the gift shop at Virtua Hospital in Marlton. A noted baker, she was also – as her obituary says – “quick with a joke.” 

James W. Brisbane was already an “amazing” athlete and horn player in high school, according to his obituary. He and his wife of 79 years performed around the country as The Jayvons, and James was the first Black DJ for a Harrisburg radio station. A man with “clarity of mind,” he was also a voice in Philadelphia broadcasting. When he passed, James was 101 – and nine months.

Sources: Legacy.com, Sweeney Funeral Home, Heeley Funeral Homes, Budd Funeral Home, Boyd Funeral Services

The Good Life appears twice a month. To suggest someone who recently passed away for a tribute, email Christina Mitchell at cmitchell@donnelly.media. Please describe in a few words something about the person’s life.