Garrett J. Ward

    Garrett J Ward, 77 of Keyport, passed away at home Wednesday, August 16, 2023.  Born in Bayonne, he grew up in the Port Richmond section of Staten Island where he and his mother lived with his aunt, uncle and four cousins/"siblings".  A graduate of Port Richmond High School, he would later serve his country in Vietnam as a communications specialist in the United States Army.  After getting married, he would relocate to Laurence Harbor.  

    Garrett is predeceased by his mother, Louise (DeCiuceus) and cousins/"siblings" George Tozzi and Madeline (Tozzi) Olszewski. 

    Garrett leaves behind his ex-wife and friend Stella Ward of Laurence Harbor, as well as his loving children Brandon Ward (and wife Nicole) of Aberdeen, Melanie Slowik (and husband Marcin) of Cliffwood Beach, and adored grandchildren Gabriella and Charles Slowik.  He is also survived by cousins/"siblings" Joseph Tozzi of Brick and Robert Tozzi (wife Sandy) of Port Charlotte, FL, his cousins' children: Joseph (wife Elvira), Carolyn (husband Richie), Robbie and Janice whom he considered "nieces/nephews" as well as their children.  His surviving extended family includes sister-in-law Anne Erbetta (husband, John) of South Amboy, cousin Anita Vetere (husband, William) of Venice, FL, nephew Michael Vetere (wife, Belinda) of Keansburg and his niece and grand-niece Anita-Lynn (husband William) and Alexandra Lester of Long Island.

   Garret had previously been employed by C.J. Lawrence brokerage firm in NYC for almost thirty years up until his retirement in 1994; he also worked for Amtrak briefly in the late '90s.  He had an affinity for jazz drumming and spent several years in a wedding band on Staten Island.  A former communicant of St. Lawrence Church, he was an usher and mainstay at the 8 a.m. Mass.  In his spare time, he enjoyed reading, listening to music and watching tv.

   Services for Garrett are private, with interment in St. Joseph's Cemetary in Keyport.

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