Popola III, Thomas J.I, Age: 74, Lincroft

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Thomas J. Popola, III, 73, of Lincroft, passed away at home
on Monday, September 28. This is a true story! Thomas was
born in Union to Thomas J. Jr. and Dorothy Fischer. He honorably
served our country in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1968.
Tom was an owner of Thomas J. Popola and Sons in Newark
and a longtime communicant of St. Leo the Great R.C. Church
in Lincroft. Tom was a third degree Knight of Columbus, a
Lincroft Little League Baseball Coach, a CYO leader and good
friend to all that knew him.
He was predeceased by his parents. Tom is survived by his
loving wife of 49 years, Joan (Steets) Popola; his children,
Thomas J. IV and his wife Kristen of Summit, Christine
Minarchenko and her husband John of Wall and Jennifer Sprake and her husband Kevin of
Lincroft; his sisters, Patricia Rekemeier and Virginia Hummer of Bayville and Kathleen Haskell
of Toms River; a brother-in-law, Joseph Steets and wife Cindy of Toms River; a sister-in-law,
Dolores Pleconis and husband Richard of Middletown; his beloved grandchildren, Megan and
Taylor Popola, Nicholas Minarchenko and Matthew, Joseph and Daniel Sprake. Tom’s extended
family included: Mike Steinmetz, the Card’s Club, Eddie and Phyllis Brunner, the Cape May
Crew and too many others to mention.
Following his retirement in 2004, Tom enjoyed relaxing with family and friends in Cape
May, Disney and Daniels. Through one of life’s curves, he had the gift of building enduring
friendships at Riverview Cardiac Rehab where only nicknames could express his love for this
wonderful group of friends.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct 1 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the John E. Day
Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
on Friday, Oct 2 at 10:45 a.m. at St. Leo the Great R.C. Church, Lincroft. Entombment will follow
at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s
memory to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005 or
Riverview Medical Center Cardiac Rehab, Red Bank, NJ.
Please visit Thomas’ memorial website available at www.johnedayfuneralhome.com.