Patricia A. (Patty) Shaheen passed away peacefully Dec. 24, 2021, with her family at her side at Riverview Hospital.
She leaves behind her husband of 49 years, Timothy Sr.; four children, TJ, Lisa, Michael and Brian; and six grandchildren – the loves of her life – Joseph, Felix, Ayla, Huntyr, Bryelle and Easton. Patty also leaves behind her siblings, Gregory Busichio and Kathleen Hilmer, both from Fernandina Beach, Florida, Peter Busichio of St. Augustine, Florida, Maryanne Busichio of Lincroft, and Carol Perl, Center Harbor, New Hampshire.
Patty was predeceased by her father Robert Busichio, her mom Genevieve Richichi (Walsh) and a brother, Robert Busichio.
Patty graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven High School in 1967 and then from Seton Hall Nursing School. She went on to receive her master’s degree in marine biology from Georgian Court University in Lakewood.
After a short period in the convent, Patty began her career as a short order cook at Longo’s in Sea Bright where she met her husband Tim. She then worked as a registered nurse and a school teacher. She taught at St. Catherine’s Grammar School in Keansburg and also was an adjunct professor at Wagner College in Staten Island. She also worked as a stringer for the Asbury Park Press and was thrilled every time one of her articles got a byline.
Patty spent many years as a volunteer for the NOAA Fisheries at the Marine Labs on Sandy Hook where she loved going out and performing surveys and sampling in the Atlantic Ocean and the rivers. She wrote papers on both winter flounder breeding habits in the Navesink and copepods which she got published in journals.
Patty loved birdwatching and wildlife. She spent many hours observing boats, fishermen, clammers and sunsets and stargazing from the well-known gazebo at her waterfront home on the Navesink River.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to: St. Vincent dePaul Society at Our Lady of Perpetual Help-Highlands at OLPH St. Vincent DePaul Society, 114 Center Ave., Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716, or the NJ Audubon Society at community.njaudubon.org.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 8 at St. Agnes Church, Atlantic Highlands.
Please visit Patricia’s memorial website at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
The article originally appeared in the January 6 – 12, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
