Jersey passed away unexpectedly surrounded by family on December 25, 2019. Born in Jersey
City, the eldest of seven children, he attended St. Peter’s Prep followed by Fordham University.
He cherished his summers in Monmouth Beach on the Jersey Shore with his friends and
cousins, always reminiscing of his time in the Castle and Apache Lodge. He could be found
reading a book on the beach after work as the head lifeguard during his teenage years. His love
for skiing led him to lay his roots in Vermont where he lived with his brother, Billy, and several of
their closest friends. It was in Vermont where he found his one true love, his wife, Robin, in
1981. Together, they raised five beautiful children. He became a legend among his children and
their friends, well known for coaching sports and his ability to create the perfect toboggan run,
“Track”, when they were young and for leading his teams to championships in golf and hockey
when they were older. He ran his own ski tuning business, Too Tall Tuners, before he dedicated
30 years to the U.S. Postal Service, followed by his most recent job as a technology specialist
for Adams Middle School. He loved spending time working on the boat, chasing the next big
fish, and rooting for his beloved Yankees, Jets, and Lightning. Family was his life and his
greatest happiness. He was always a dependable shoulder, a calming voice, an intelligent mind,
a problem solver, and above all an amazing husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend to
countless people.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Robin; daughter, Chamonix Grove and her husband,
Aaron, and their three children, Annika, Ella and Jaxson; son, Patrick, and his wife, Pauline;
son, Christopher, and his wife, Richelle; son, Connor, and his wife, Lotiffa; son, Ryan, and his
partner, Brittany; Mother in-law, Claire Bartoes, and husband, Daniel; brother, William Morton,
and his wife, Jaye; sister, Eileen Cerruti, and her husband, Keith; sister, Mary Jane Morton;
sister, Peggy Barton, and her husband, Rich; sister, Kathy Mendillo, and her husband, Michael;
and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents,
Eileen and William Morton; sister, Elizabeth Ann Morton; and brother in-law, David Diakunczak.
A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of the
Rosary, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’Lakes, FL. Family and friends are welcome to celebrate
his life on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 1:00 PM at Blount and Curry Funeral Home, 3207 W.
Bearss Avenue in Tampa, FL and at 5:00 PM at Tampa Cruis-A-Cade Club, 2002 Cruis A Cade
Place in Tampa, FL.
