Obituary of Eugene John McDonald

Eugene J. McDonald, 93, of Freehold, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, at Brandywine Senior Living, in Howell. He was the very loving husband of Mary Rose (Manzo) McDonald. The couple celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary on May 24th, 2016. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late Michael and Caroline McDonald, whom he dearly loved. A highly decorated U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he spent his time stationed with the 316th Troop Carrier Unit in North Africa and Europe. After WWII, he attended and graduated Seton Hall University in 1955. Gene worked for Western Electric and AT&T, retiring after 42 years. He began his career in Kearny, NJ, where he met his wife. He and his family moved to Freehold in 1957. He commuted to lower Manhattan, for over 40 years, and spent his final years with AT&T in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, retiring in 1984. After retirement, Gene and Mary moved to Murrell's Inlet, SC, for 17 years, before returning to Freehold. He was a member of St. Rose Roman Catholic Church, Freehold and St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Murrell's Inlet, SC. Gene was a family man who enjoyed golf, barbecuing, pool parties, and talking baseball and football with his family and many friends. Gene loved his adopted home town of Jersey City, and often spoke fondly of his formative years spent there, particularly his semi-professional baseball and football careers. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sister, Mary Rose Sokorai, of Myrtle Beach, SC, his two sons, Eugene J., Jr. and his wife, Darlie, of Las Vegas, NV, and Michael G. And his companion, Helenea of Freehold, NJ, his daughter Kathleen Economos, of Spring Lake, NJ, two granddaughters and their husbands, Christine and John Tacopino of Freehold, NJ, and their children, Amelia, Vinnie, and Charlotte, and Kelly and Erik Kosker, and their yet to be born daughter, of Toms River, NJ. Family and friends are invited to visit the Freeman Funeral Home, 47 East Main Street, Freehold on Friday October 14th, from 4 to 7 PM. A funeral service will be held during the visitation at 6:30 PM. Interment will be private. To share photos, leave a condolence, or find directions visit www.freemanfuneralhomes.com.