Page 2 • Wednesday, November 13, 2019 • The Hammonton Gazette
TAB L E O F CO N T E N TS
The Hammonton Gazette
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
OUR TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
FAITH FOCUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
CIVIC NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
HAMMONTON’S HISTORY . . . . . . 25
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . 53
HAMMONTON
FAMILY EYECARE
WHAT’S HOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
MIND GAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
HOROSCOPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
REAL ESTATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
SCORECARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Complete Eye Care For All Ages
www.hammontonfamilyeyecare.com
80 S. White Horse Pike • Hammonton • Tel: (609) 567-7479
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O BItUARIES
The Hammonton Gazette (USPS 018984) is published weekly. The Hammonton Gazette is located at 14 Tilton St., Hammonton, NJ 08037.
Periodicals Postage Paid at Hammonton, NJ. Subscriptions are available for $25.00 per year for New Jersey addresses & $30.00 per year for
residents for out-of-state addressess. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Hammonton Gazette, 14 Tilton St., P.O. Box 1228 Ham-
monton, NJ 08037. Call (609) 704-1940 for more information.
Dr. Joseph A. Riggs
Dr. Joseph a. riggs, 85, died on November 7, 2019 in Haddonfield.
He was born to John and Mildred rigolizzo on December 10, 1933 in
Hammonton. He cherished his family background as peach farmers dat-
ing back to 1888. after graduating as Salutatorian from Hammonton High
School, in 1951, he pursued studies in medicine. He was most proud of
his Jesuit degrees including a BS from Georgetown University (1955)
and an MD from Georgetown University Medical School (1959). He
completed his residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN) at
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia in 1964. He con-
sidered it his ultimate privilege to care for his patients as a physician at
Our Lady of Lourdes, West Jersey/Virtua and Cooper Hospitals for nearly
50 years. Dr. riggs married Lola Burdick (also from Hammonton) in 1958. Together they
raised their family in Haddonfield. as an OB/GYN, his patients’ health and well-being were
always on his mind. When teaching young medical residents, he often reminded them of
his favorite quote, “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you
care.” Dr. riggs kept in touch with many of his family, friends and former patients and often
visited or called them to provide words of hope, faith and encouragement. His compassion
for others is rooted in his Georgetown training of “cura personalis” or care of the whole per-
son. He was most grateful for his education and gave considerable time and effort to the
Georgetown University alumni association. He served as the President of the alumni as-
sociation and received the prestigious John Carroll award as an outstanding alumnus in
1981. He helped create the alumni admissions Program in 1962 and was honored as inter-
viewer of the Year in 1989. Dr. riggs also volunteered his time and energy for his profession.
He was elected to the american Medical association Board of Trustees, served as the Pres-
ident of the Camden County Medical Society and was President of the Medical Society of
New Jersey. He was appointed by three different New Jersey Governors as a member of
the State Board of Medical examiners and received the New Jersey academy of Medicine
award as the Outstanding Physician of New Jersey in 1994. He took pride in planting flowers
which was his favorite hobby. His ultimate passion was being a Haddonfield sports fan. To
be sure he “wouldn’t miss any games” he chose his resting place at the cemetery directly
across from the Haddonfield Memorial High School. He attended every HMHS football,
basketball and baseball game and enjoyed being the unofficial “Stat Man” for his grand-
children’s performances. He was a huge Phillies and Yankees fan and enjoyed watching
the games.
His legacy includes seven children, John C. riggs, MD, Lo-ann Davis (Christopher),
Joseph a. riggs Jr. (Debra), anita riggs, Dever Levy (Simon), James riggs (Kim) and Lo-
rina Kadar (Thomas). He is also lovingly survived by 24 grandchildren; 10 great-grand-
children; his sister, Marie Cappuccio (anthony) and sister-in-law, Helen rigolizzo (wife of
his brother John).
friends and family are invited to attend his viewing(s) on either Thursday, November 14
from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. or friday, November 15 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Christ the King
roman Catholic Church, 200 Windsor avenue, Haddonfield, N.J., 08033. His funeral Mass
will be on Saturday, November 16 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King roman Catholic Church
and can be viewed live at ctkhaddonfield.org/webcam. interment will be private. in lieu of
flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to either Christ the King
Church or to Georgetown University:
Christ the King Church Online
ctkhaddonfield.org/parish-giving; By Mail: Christ the King Church, 200 Windsor avenue,
Haddonfield, NJ 08033. Please designate your gift in memory of Dr. Joseph riggs Or
Georgetown University Online: giving.georgetown.edu; By Mail: Georgetown University
Gift Processing Department, Number 0734, Washington, DC 20073-0734. Please designate
your gift in memory of Dr. Joseph riggs.
arrangements made by Healey funeral Home, Haddon Heights.
Dolores Esposito Munson
Dolores esposito Munson (nee Piason), 88, of Stratford, N.J., and for-
merly of Winslow died peacefully on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the
Medford Care Center.
Dolores was born and raised in Winslow and lived in Stratford for more
than 60 years. She also enjoyed her Margate home for many years. She
graduated from Lower Camden County regional High School in 1948.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from rutgers University,
which she began while teaching, raising two children, and managing a
household and completed after becoming widowed at the age of 32. She
was a gifted and devoted teacher at Magnolia Public School for 40 years.
Dolores was an instant spark of light and fun to all who met her and loved
by all who knew her. She was a teacher, a pianist, a poet, a traveler, a reader, a writer. as the
ninth of 10 children, Dolores enjoyed competition. Her true calling was as a nurturer.
She is predeceased by her parents, James and raphaela Piason; husbands, Nicholas es-
posito and floyd Munson and daughter, elizabeth Munson. Surviving are her children, Joan
Smeraski and her husband Michael of Medford, Dr. Bridget Bernardi and her husband Dr.
John Bernardi of Sewell, and Dr. Joseph esposito and his wife Pamela of Smithville; and
two sisters, Sylvia Olivo of Hammonton and antoinette Christopher of rosedale, N.J. She
will be sadly missed by her seven loving grandchildren, andrea Blair (David), Nicholas
Smeraski (Katelynn), amy and Samuel esposito and Stella, Lydia and Theodore Bernardi.
family and friends are invited to attend her church visitation today, Wednesday, Novem-
ber 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., all at St.
Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish – St. Joseph Church, Third & french Streets, Hammonton. Burial
will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 124 S. first rd., Hammonton. in lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to Magnolia Board of education, 420 Warwick rd. Magnolia, NJ
08049.
arrangements made by Marinella funeral Home.
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News from the local police
THG/Gabe Donio. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Studio 21 owner Jeanine Donio performing a brow lamination on Alyssa Patane.
Saturday, November 9, 3:18 p.m.
POLICE, from Page 1
value in plain view. Thieves may be trying to do their
holiday ‘shopping’ early as well,” friel said.
anyone with any information should contact the
Hammonton Police Department at (609) 561-4000,
friel said.
in other crime news, a burglary of a structure was
reported to police on November 7 on the 900 block
of 10th Street.
“The owner described that he saw two screens on
the pole barn damaged, that items inside appeared to
have been rummaged through. a gas grill and a tele-
vision were taken from inside the structure,” friel
said.
The alleged theft occurred between 3 p.m. on No-
vember 5 and 1 p.m. on November 6, friel said.
anyone with any information should contact the
Hammonton Police Department at (609) 561-4000,
friel said.
friel said Class ii Officer Dalton Verderame was
the investigating officer.
at 11:28 a.m. on November 8, on the prime block
of Plymouth road, police were notified that a car was
allegedly taken on November 6, friel said.
friel said a subject came in to sign a criminal com-
plaint for someone taking a vehicle without consent.
“The owner of the vehicle stated that a customer of
theirs was interested in purchasing a vehicle from his
lot. The vehicle was a 2004 red Dodge Neon. an as-
sociate of the gentleman who was looking at the ve-
hicle apparently took the keys of the vehicle and it
was driven by a Kevin Owen Bisbee Jr., 34, of Ham-
monton and a citizen complaint was signed against
him by the vehicle owner,” friel said.
Sgt. Jason rigby handled the walk-in complaint,
friel said.
at 8 p.m. on November 9, following a report of an
erratic driver in the area of 12th Street near the at-
lantic City expressway, the responding officer came
upon a vehicle parked on the 800 block of 12th Street,
friel said.
Jessica Garbania, 38, of Ventnor was in the vehicle,
friel said.
K-9 Officer robert zbikowski conducted field so-
briety tests and charged Garbania with driving while
under the influence of alcohol, friel said.
friel said zbikowski issued motor vehicle sum-
monses to Garbania.
GravyFest showcases the best
by Joseph F. Berenato
G azeTTe S Taff W riTer
for decades, a debate has continued as to whether
the red substance used on pasta should be called
“sauce” or “gravy.” for the past several years, the
Hammonton rotary Club has attempted to settle that
debate with its annual Hammonton Gravy vs. Sauce
Competition.
if this year’s competition was any indication, then
“gravy” was the clear winner, as the competition has
changed its name to Gravyfest, which was held on
November 10 at elvins Hall.
“i’m half-italian, but i really identify as italian, and
it should just be called ‘gravy.’ Nobody calls it sauce
here,” rotarian Ken Long, one of the event’s organ-
izers, said.
Close to 20 participants entered the competition,
which was divided into four categories: Professional
Meat Gravy (either mixed into the sauce or removed
after cooking), Professional red Gravy (no meat),
Homemade Meat Gravy and Homemade red Gravy.
each homemade winner received a certificate and
an engraved wooden spoon, while professional win-
ners received a certificate and a plaque. Winners also
received medals.
Long said that, while turnout for this year’s
Gravyfest was great, he has even higher hopes for
next year and the years to come.
“The goal isn’t just for this club. The goal is for the
whole entire district to get involved. if we can get 10
clubs doing Gravyfest in different parts of South Jer-
sey, and take the winners and go to Lucien’s Manor
in Berlin—which is also rotarian—and do the grand
finale there, that’s really the goal,” Long said.
See GRAVY, Page 13
Inferrera’s
Market
EVERYBODY’S STORE.
436 N. 3RD STREET - HAMMONTON 561-1061
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