John Joseph Kastel

John Joseph “Jack” Kastel, 86, of Ortley Beach, N.J., passed away peacefully on March 19, 2015. A lifelong New York Giants and Rangers fan, Jack was born in Plainfield, N.J., on July 7, 1928, to John and Mary Ann Hennessey Kastel. He played football and hockey throughout his youth, including the Crusaders semi-pro football team, eventually earning a football scholarship to attend St. Bonaventure University. His family spent summers at the Jersey shore, where he moved in the 1950s and started a family. He was the co-owner of the Ortley Tavern, a popular shore nightspot, before taking over the family plumbing business, Kastel & Son Plumbing, retiring in 2000. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 399, Ortley Beach, where he could be found holding court over a Budweiser after a hard day’s work. He enjoyed skiing in the Catskills, running a timeshare ski club with friends and family in Pine Hill, N.Y. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Janis Kemp Kastel, daughter Christianne Obando of Honolulu, HI; son John W. Kastel, of Bayville, N.J.; daughter Jodi and husband Keith McCaffrey, Washington, N.J., grandsons James, Marco and Christopher, granddaughters Ciera, Alexis and Kayla, great-grandsons Aiden and Azzure, and great-granddaughter Zoe. He was predeceased by his son, James Randolph Kastel. A Memorial Gathering will be held on Sunday March 29th, 2015 at 2PM at the Ortley Beach Moose Lodge 399, 1801 Bay Boulevard, Ortley Beach, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Jack’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.