Owen Patrick Layden, 93, of Monmouth Beach and most recently of Red Bank, passed away peacefully Aug. 2, 2021, surrounded by his wife Mary and daughters, Sandy, Janet and Linda and their husbands. Owen had a remarkable life of family, faith, education, service, Irish dance, biking and travel.
He was born in Hartshorne, Oklahoma, to the late John and Hazel (Harbert) Layden. Owen graduated from St. Gregory’s High School in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and his master’s degree in electrical engineering from Rutgers University and a second master’s degree in history from Monmouth University. Owen proudly served in the United States Army. He was a member of the board of education for Monmouth Beach School and Shore Regional High School, serving on both boards for a number of years.
Owen was very proud of his Irish heritage, teaching Irish dances to numerous groups, including Monmouth Folk Dancers. He was introduced to Irish dancing in 1980 while visiting dance schools in Ireland. These schools included Merriamn School, South Sligo School, Daumsham Bac and Willie Clancey. He was the instructor and leader of Jersey Shore Irish Set Dancers in Monmouth Beach for two decades. He won numerous medals such as second place Set Dancing in the Washington Fleah and first place in the New York City Set Dancing. He continued his love of Irish dance, music and history by teaching Irish heritage at Brookdale Community College and serving on the dance committee for Irish Festivals at Sandy Hook for the college.
Owen worked for the Department of the Army at Fort Monmouth for over 40 years as a supervisory electronic engineer. Throughout his successful career he worked on frequency control and microelectronics technology. He authored a large number of technical reports and presentations and attended international conventions. Owen served as the chairman of IEEE Technical group on Crystal Oscillators and First ECOM Hybrid Microcircuit Symposium.
He was predeceased by his siblings, Kathleen (Carl), Walter (Virginia), John (June), Jim (Mary), Ted (Rosemary), Bill (Gisela) and Bob (Yvonne) and his brother-in-law Alex Siman.
He is survived by his beloved wife of over 68 years, Mary (Ciszeski) Layden; his loving children, Sandra Rendell and her husband George, Janet Forsyth and her husband Larry, and Linda Curran and her husband Scott; his cherished grandchildren, Jordan, Margaret, Sam, Rebecca, Jack and Marin; and his dear sister Mary E. Layden.
Visitation was held Aug. 6 at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Aug. 7 at the Church of the Precious Blood. Interment followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Owen’s memory to a charity Owen and Mary were both passionate about and active in: Dystonia Medical Research Foundation at dystonia-foundation.org.
The article originally appeared in the August 12 – 18, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
