It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the loving family of Richard Edward Dooley said goodbye March 12, 2024.
Rich was born March 30, 1947, in Hoboken to James (Jim) Dooley and Virginia (Ginnie) Claire Carroll. The Dooley family moved to Rumson in 1955 where Rich grew up as the second of five boys. He attended Holy Cross School and graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven High School in 1965. Richard was a talented athlete who attended Seton Hall University on a basketball scholarship.
After graduating from Seton Hall, Rich married Linda Meloskie and moved back to Monmouth County where he was a high school teacher for a few years. Rich and Linda had two sons (Rich and Kevin) before moving to Texas to work with his uncle Frank Dooley and brothers Jerry and Tom. Rich moved back to Rumson in 1980 and started what would be a very successful career as a stockbroker and financial advisor. He was fortunate to raise his family in the same Lafayette Street house that he grew up in. Rich spent many days and hours with his sons on the basketball court at Rogers Park.
Rich loved life and being surrounded by friends and family. He was an avid golfer and loved to talk about his two holes-in-one. Besides golf, he loved the Yankees but was most passionate about Seton Hall basketball. He loved taking his grandchildren to see the Pirates play. He also loved going to his grandkids’ sporting events and always encouraged them to be their best.
Besides bleeding Pirate blue, he took pride in being a part of a big Irish Catholic family and loved being called one of the big, tall Dooley boys. Many a laugh was had when the Dooley and Carroll clan would come together.
He loved his summers and the beach, having spent many days lounging in the sun at The Peninsula House and then Ship Ahoy.
Family and faith were important to Rich. He loved his two sons and was always excited to tell anyone who would listen about his 10 grandkids, who called him Pop. He was a parishioner at Holy Cross Church in Rumson. These past two years Rich was lucky to spend his time with his loving partner, Andrea Brock. The family is forever grateful for the love and compassion Andrea showed their dad.
Rich is survived by his son Kevin, his wife Emily and their children, Anna, Charlotte, Gabrielle and Michael; and his son Rich, his wife Allison and their children, Joseph, James, Jacob, Mary, Joshua and Joel.
Rich was brother to James Dooley and his wife Judy Amato (deceased); Thomas Dooley and his wife Erin Burke Dooley; Gerard (Jerry) Dooley and his wife Margie Hogan Dooley; and Bill Dooley and his wife Clare Cushing Dooley.
Rich’s family would like to thank all his family, friends and co-workers who were part of his journey in life and for their love and support. Please remember Rich in your prayers.
A Catholic Mass was celebrated March 19 at Holy Cross Church in Rumson. In lieu of flowers, please remember Richard with a memorial donation to Holy Cross Academy at hcarumson.org or the Tunnel to Towers foundation at t2t.org.
Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
The article originally appeared in the March 21 – 27, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
