Joseph F. Cabrera of Atlantic Highlands passed away Dec. 20, 2023, at home with his beloved wife Katie by his side.
Joe was born June 10, 1947, in Manhattan to Felicita and Angel Luis Cabrera, the fourth of six children. In addition to many youthful adventures throughout New York City, he also fondly remembered time with his family on his uncle’s dairy farm in Puerto Rico. He attended and graduated from Immaculata High School and later obtained a bachelor’s degree from Baruch College of the City University of New York.
In the spring of 1980, he met the love of his life, Katie Mulheren, when they were both working at Tavern on the Green in Central Park. This past June, they were thrilled to celebrate 40 years of marriage.
Joe’s greatest passion was his family, especially his children, Damien (Leesburg, Virginia), Nina (Brooklyn, New York), Harris (Bloomfield) and Lucy (Atlantic Highlands) and his grandchildren, Max and Cecilia. He was exceedingly proud of all of his children’s accomplishments, no matter the size. Nothing made him happier than spending time with his children – at home watching movies, going down to the Atlantic Highlands boat ramp to take in the comings and goings, at Monmouth Park Racetrack every Father’s Day, taking marathon trips to Disney World, and so many other activities, mundane and special.
Described variously as “Joe,” “Dad,” “pater familias,” “Uncle Joe,” and “the Last Great American,” he was also a proud Vietnam veteran, U.S. Army Specialist 4th Class, who held limitless admiration for all who served there and in the armed forces more broadly. He was a “veteran warrior” who met all challenges in his life with unbelievable tenacity and persistence. No one fought harder than he did when the call came, whatever the situation; he was, in many ways, the ultimate survivor.
His family remembers him as one of the smartest, funniest, hardest-working people imaginable. He was the most skilled storyteller, whether he was recounting tales from his youth or celebrity encounters from his decades in the hospitality industry, like the time he accidentally addressed Katie Couric as Sally Field; or the other time he accidentally addressed Katie Couric as Sally Field.
As a native Manhattanite, he did not obtain a driver’s license until the age of 28 but he made up for his late start by developing a strong love for – perhaps even an obsession with – vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and probably some others that they haven’t even thought of yet. He loved his longtime home of New Jersey and, when crossing the Atlantic Highlands or Oceanic Bridge, he would frequently remark how grateful he was to live in such a remarkably beautiful place.
He had an abiding wonder for the natural world and was also a prolific pet owner. He often noted that when the time came for him to leave this world, he hoped that when he got to Heaven, he would get to see what dinosaurs had really been like. Above all, he loved to share these and his other passions with his loved ones.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved siblings, Junior, Yolanda and Robert, and his brothers-in-law, John and Karl.
In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, he is survived by his sister Irene Cabrera de Franck; his daughter-in-law Bree Cabrera and son-in-law Evan Fortune-Cabrera, whom he truly considered a second son; his doting in-laws Maureen Mulheren, Nancy Mulheren, Colleen and Bill Wood, Patty and Sam Skinner, and Michael Mulheren and Amanda Butterbaugh Mulheren; and literally dozens of cherished nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held Dec. 26, 2023, at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Dec. 27 at Holy Cross Church, Rumson. Burial followed at Fair View Cemetery, Red Bank. Memorial donations may be made to Fisher House Foundation, Inc. at fisherhouse.org.
This article originally appeared in the January 4 – 10, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
