Jeffrey Richard Gilman, 66, beloved husband, father and brother, died October 13, 2016 surrounded by his loving family.
Jeff was born in Newark and grew up in Union where he attended Union High School before coming to the Jersey Shore. He attended Monmouth University and graduated in 1973 with a BA in psychology. It was at Monmouth that he met and married his college love and decided to remain at the shore to raise his family in the Ocean Township community. After graduating college, Jeff was a social worker for Monmouth County where he helped senior citizens obtain services and organized trips and activities for his seniors. When an opportunity to learn the restaurant business came along, Jeff moved to Charleston, SC to manage several restaurants. He enjoyed low country golf courses of Charleston, but when his father needed his help running the family restaurant/bar in Newark, he returned to Jersey. For 25 years alongside his father, Roland Gilman, he ran Murphy’s Tavern of Newark, where his skills at the grill and behind the bar were renowned. When Murphy’s made way for the Prudential Center, Jeff turned to his lifelong love of golf and became Club Supervisor for Goldsmith International. An avid golfer, Jeff won several amateur county and country club championships, including the 2003 Mercedes Benz championship at Jumping Brook Country Club. He had great patience when giving private lessons and an ability to pass along his love of the game to his many friends and clients. But it was his love of the Monmouth County courses and his regular weekly foursomes that Jeff most enjoyed, especially his Howell group.
Jeff loved to travel, most often to Bermuda where he loved the beaches and golf courses, even scoring a hole in one commemorated at the clubhouse. Jeff traveled to Europe several times chaperoning student trips abroad to England, Ireland, Italy and Spain. He was the group leader everyone depended on and helped make each trip abroad safe and memorable for the students.
Jeff was a vital part of the Ocean community and took great pride in his home and family. Whether volunteering to coach recreational soccer and softball for his daughters’ teams, hosting summer BBQ’s on his deck, replenishing the yard each season with flowers, or volunteering as steward for the Deal Volunteer Fire Company, Jeff took great pride in his accomplishments.
Jeff is survived by his wife of 40 years, Irene Gilman; three daughters, Stacey Gilman, Amy Gilman Pereira and Jenna Gilman, all of Oakhurst; his sister, Susan Caroselli of Lakewood; in laws, Gloria and Alan Rich of Somerset, Rose and Joe Rivera of Hillsborough, Thomas and Tracy Rodriguez of Hillsborough and several beloved nieces and their husbands.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 2-4 & 7-9 pm Sunday at the Fiore Funeral Home, 236 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, Ocean Township. A private funeral service will be held for the family on Monday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests friends and family to honor Jeff’s memory by making a contribution to the J. R. Gilman Golf Scholarship, c/o Ocean Township High School, 550 West Park Avenue, Oakhurst, NJ 07755, Attention: Myra Siciliano. For condolences, please visit www.fiorefuneralhomes.com.