Donald Francis Noone, 86, of Shadow Lake Village, Red Bank, passed away peacefully Sept. 3, 2025. Don was born Dec. 9, 1938, in Pittston, Pennsylvania, to Joseph and Angela Noone. He graduated from Roselle Park High School in 1957. He then joined the U.S. Navy, serving two years, including time spent in Lebanon. He was honorably discharged in 1958, when he returned home to reunite with the love of his life.
He married Nancy Kelly in 1960 and they raised two children, Donna and Kevin, in Linden. They were married for close to 50 years.
Don started as a technical writer but spent most of his career at ITT as a technical manager on defense systems. He traveled extensively for his job, including long-term stints in Turkey and Japan.
He had a strong faith and was very active in the Catholic Church at St. John’s in Clark and later at St. Mary’s in Barnegat, where he and his wife Nancy served in “Ken’s Kitchen” to help provide food for the communities in need in Ocean County.
Don loved the Fighting Irish and rarely missed a Notre Dame football game, whether watching from his favorite chair or cheering alongside his brother Paul. Football was a bond that tied him even closer to his family, and that shared tradition often marked Saturdays in the fall. He also cherished golfing – whether with his son-in-law, Trenton, his close-knit group of buddies, or all the Beriont boys. But above all those pastimes, spending time with his family remained his greatest joy.
He considered his brothers and sisters not just relatives but his very best friends. From long conversations to playful teasing, he found comfort and laughter in their company. He treasured his time with siblings Joseph, Bobby, Billy, Paul, Angela, Loretta and Catherine, each relationship carrying its own stories and special memories. To him, family was everything, and he made sure each person felt seen, valued and loved.
Among those who now carry his memory closest are his two devoted sisters, Angela Amaniera and Catherine Korsant, and their families, who remained a constant source of love and connection in his life.
Known for his quick wit and easy smile, he had a way of lighting up any room he entered. If you were lucky enough to know him, you probably had a nickname he created just for you – a sign of affection wrapped in humor. He had the rare gift of making people laugh while making them feel deeply cared for, a combination that defined his spirit. Even in his final days, he never lost that spark. He gave laughter and love, and he left behind memories that will keep both alive for everyone who knew him.
Don was predeceased by his wife, Nancy Kelly Noone (2009), and his son Kevin Joseph Noone (2019). He is survived by his loving daughter, Donna Noone Beriont; her husband, Trenton Beriont; their three daughters, Carleigh Beriont (Eric Schlidge), Paige Beriont (Kristi Marciano), and Lauren Beriont (Kate Harris); and two great-grandchildren, Siralina and Linden Beriont.
The article originally appeared in the September 25 – October 1, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
