Obituaries

Greater Media Newspapers prints obituaries as a free community service, at no charge to the families of the deceased or to the funeral homes that provide the information.

RONALD M. ROMAN SR., 65, of Metuchen died Aug. 19 in JFK Haven Hospice, Edison. He was a 1956 graduate of Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., where he earned a bachelor of arts degree, and a 1966 graduate of Newark State College (now Kean University), Union, where he earned a master of arts degree in education and supervision. He taught social studies at Thomas Jefferson Junior High School, Edison, from 1959-1984, where he served as head of the social studies department from 1963-1984. He continued his teaching career at J.P. Stevens High School, Edison, from 1984-1995, and he was head teacher of the English as a Second Language program at Edison Adult School from 1973-1985. He served as an education supervisor for the state Juvenile Justice Commission from 1996-2000. A contributing writer for the political commentary columns in the New York Tribune newspaper, he also was co-owner of the Metuchen Craft Shoppe for 17 years, president of Metuchen Pop Warner, director and coach of Metuchen Little League and committee chairman of Metuchen Cub Scout Pack No. 69. He was a member of the National Education Association, the N.J. Education Association, the Middlesex County Education Association, the Edison Township Education Association, the American Corrections Association, the Metuchen-Edison Jaycees and Metuchen Elks Lodge No. 1914. A member of the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1990-1993, he served as freeholder director in 1992. He served as president of the Metuchen Republican Club from 1985-1986 and was honored with the club’s Republican of the Year award in 1991. He also was named Citizen of the Year in 1991 by the Metuchen Chamber of Commerce. He was a parishioner of St. Francis Cathedral, Metuchen. Surviving are his wife, Joan; a daughter, Karen Kesten and her husband, Jeff, of East Brunswick; two sons, Ronald Roman Jr., and his wife, Ellen, of Bryson City, N.C., and Michael Roman of Dania, Fla.; a grandson, Keith Kesten; two nieces and two nephews. Services were arranged by Flynn and Son Funeral Home, Fords section of Woodbridge, with a Mass of Christian Burial planned for Aug. 23 in St. Francis Cathedral. Interment will follow in Hillside Cemetery, Metuchen. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ron Roman Memorial Fund, c/o J.P. Stevens High School Scholarship Fund, 855 Grove Ave., Edison 08818, or to JFK Haven Hospice, 65 James St., Edison 08818.

THE REV. LEONARD KUBERSKI, 58, of South River died Aug. 19 at home. He was a 1964 graduate of the University of Notre Dame (Ind.), where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in history in 1964 and a master of arts degree in scripture in 1978. He served as student manager of the Notre Dame football team and wrote the script for and appeared in the movie Rudy. He attended Catholic University Seminary, Washington, D.C., and was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. He currently was serving as pastor of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Dunellen. Prior to that, he served at St. John the Baptist Church, North Hampton, Pa.; St. Josaphat Church, Philadelphia; Saints Peter and Paul Church, Wilmington, Del.; St. Michael’s Church, Chicago; and St. John the Baptist Church, Passaic. His parents, the late Leonard and Joan Poliny Kuberski, owned and operated Kuberski Riding Stables, South River, for many years. Arrangements were under the direction of Maliszewski Funeral Home, South River, with a Divine Liturgy planned for Aug. 24 at Nativity of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church, East Brunswick. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, East Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made as Mass offerings or to the charity of one’s choice.

BRIAN DAVID BUTHY, 30, formerly of East Brunswick, died Aug. 11 at Community Hospital, Toms River. He was a resident of Barnegat. Surviving are his parents, Robert Buthy of Virginia and Dorine Robinson Fog of Belle Mead; a brother and sister-in-law, Kraig and Kerry Buthy of Bethel, Maine; a maternal grandmother, Dorothy Robinson of Ocean Beach; an aunt; uncle; and one niece. Services were arranged by The Crabiel Home for Funerals, Milltown, with a funeral service at Bayard Street Presbyterian Church, New Brunswick. Interment was in Franklin Memorial Park, North Brunswick.

ANNE M. HORVATH CASWELL, 87, of Spotswood died Aug. 16 in JFK Medical Center, Edison. She was predeceased by a son, William Caswell. Arrangements were under the direction of Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick, with a Mass at Immaculate Conception Church, Spotswood. Memorial contributions may be made to JFK Haven Hospice, Edison.

STANLEY L. HILL, 71, of Toms River died Aug. 13 at Community Medical Center, Toms River. He was predeceased by a granddaughter, Danielle DiGiacomo, who died in 1999. Surviving are a son, Michael Hill of Texas; a daughter, Beverly DiGiacomo of Freehold Township; two brothers, Ralph Hill of Brigantine and Ronald Hill of San Jose, Calif.; a sister, Joyce Wilhelm of Milltown; and three grandchildren. Services were held at C.H.T. Clayton & Son Funeral Home, Howell. Interment was in Franklin Memorial Park, North Brunswick.

STELLA STARUCH KULBERDA, 94, of Perth Amboy died Aug. 19 in Franklin Convalescent Center, Franklin Park section of Franklin. Her husband, Joseph Kulberda, died in 1986. Surviving are two sons, Leonard Kulberda of South River and Raymond Kulberda of the Somerset section of Franklin; a daughter, Adeline Pucci of Bainsbridge, N.Y.; two brothers, Stephen and Matthew Stankiewitz, both of Perth Amboy; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Services are planned for Aug. 23 at Maliszewski Funeral Home, South River. Interment will follow in Alpine Cemetery, Perth Amboy.

WILLIAM KURTZ, 99, of South River died Aug. 19 in Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge division. His wife, Pauline Roth Kurtz, died in 1986. Surviving are a sister, Harriet E. Kurtz of South River. Services were held at Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick. Interment was in Washington Monumental Cemetery, East Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, Cranbury Road and Route 18, East Brunswick 08816.

ELIZABETH SZANTO LUKACH, 85, of South River died Aug. 18 in St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. Her husband, Louis, died in 1992. Surviving are a daughter, Patricia Fazekas of South River; a sister, Mary Norton of Reading, Pa.; and a grandson. Arrangements were under the direction of Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick, with a service at First Reformed Church, South River. Interment was in Washington Monumental Cemetery, South River. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Hungarian Foundation, 300 Somerset Ave., New Brunswick 08903