Ruth E. Egner
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, who left us on May 28, 2024 at the age of 96. She died at home in Ocean Grove after a prolonged illness. Survived are her son and his spouse Bill and Diane Egner of Neptune; her daughter and her spouse Carol and Michael Boniello of Ocean Grove; her grandchildren Alyssa, Andrew, and William; and the children of her brother Susan and Stephanie.
Born in 1927 to John and Elizabeth Wiseman, she spent her childhood in Paterson with her parents and brother Jack (deceased). Following her graduation from Paterson Eastside High School graduate (class of January 1945), she embarked on a brief career with Lord and Taylor’s Manhattan in the beauty department.
As devout Methodists, her family was naturally thrilled to visit Ocean Grove during the summer season and as a result spending vacation time in Ocean Grove became one of Ruth’s lifelong passions even as a small child. She was quick to recall how she met a recently discharged US marine, Andrew, one Memorial Day weekend while she was sunbathing on the South End beach. She quickly perceived that Andy satisfied all the qualities of a good husband as enumerated by her English grandmother and their relationship quickly progressed to marriage. Incredibly she never changed her spot on the beach up to and including the summer of 2023. Andrew and Ruth were also original members of the boardwalk “wisdom bench” on the same beach and Ruth remained an active member after Andy’s death in 2008. She also enjoyed a connection to Ralph of the Ocean Grove fishing pier and could accurately be described as Ralph’s grandmother. More than a few Grovers know her as the lady who they would met on the streets and boardwalk on her blue handicapped scooter.
Shortly after marrying, Ruth and Andy started a family and Bill and Carol were born necessitating that Ruth suspend her work in NYC. The family initially rented in Orange and moved to Livingston acquiring a home that Ruth occupied for 65 years. Once the children graduated from high school Ruth decided to resume work outside the home and took a teaching position with the Circle Nursery School. She also volunteered as a patient representative with St Barnabus Hospital in Livingston and gained enough experience to help expand and improve the patient representative role in the hospital. Two things defined Ruth’s life: her personal lifelong walk with Jesus Christ and her dedication to her family as a daughter, wife, mother and grandmother.
Her faith compelled her to enthusiastically honor her Lord by serving His church. One of her many gifts was teaching children Sunday school and leading the Sunday school music. She began this as a teenager and continued until she was almost 90. Her natural ability to accompany on the piano and teach children to sing praise songs was remarkable and will be remembered by many souls. Ruth was always excited by the church’s Christmas nativity pageant and she was eventually instrumental in introducing the popular live nativity programs presented by Ocean Grove during the Christmas season in the Great Auditorium and on the beach during the summer. Her gift was costuming the cast.
Ruth was so happy to host her home church’s choir at her summer home in Ocean Grove for the annual Great Auditorium Choir Festival. She served as that choir’s librarian for many years. Outside the Church, Ruth immersed herself in in Andy’s volunteer work with the YMCA. Andy held many leadership positions in YMCA of Essex County and she supported him in all these roles. She continued her relationship with the Y after his death. Ruth would describe her main passion in life as Youth work. She was the adult leader for a girl’s YMCA group designed to help girls navigate their transition to womanhood. She helped to oversee and monitor the Logos Youth Center on the Ocean Grove boardwalk.
Regarding her family, suffice it to say, she was fully immersed in all her children’s and grand children’s lives. The thrill she would describe watching a grandchild’s goal, touchdown pass, or homerun could not be exaggerated. Recently she enjoyed attending her daughter’s Ocean Grove women’s tennis team’s matches and was described as the team’s number one fan. Vacations with her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren were special highlights and are the source of many fond memories.
Ruth considered herself a “tom boy” during her childhood and may have realized her full athletic potential when she joined a bowling league in Hanover NJ. She quickly achieved the highest scoring average on a team that included teammates half her age. After Andy’s death, Ruth decided to give back to the community by establishing a foundation called New Beginnings. Its mission was to develop innovative programs to help people in need. One of the foundation’s several programs was an outreach to parents who lost a child.
Her approach to life was documented on a YouTube video entitled “Be Inspired: Ruth Egner”. These programs and others had a positive impact on many lives.A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held on Saturday June 15th at 11AM at St Paul’s UMC in Ocean Grove. Ruth prioritized finding joy and happiness in life, embracing your friends and family everyday, and sharing your joy with everyone you meet. We will strive with God’s help to achieve these goals during the service.
In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to the St Paul’s Church Angel Fund dedicated to providing support to friends in the community who have experienced a desperate financial need. The Ocean Grove Memorial Home is in charge of arrangements.