Al Lingsch, long-time teacher at Central Regional High School, died this week at the age of 84. During his life he was very active as a teacher of CCD for the Catholic Church in Toms River, and found friendship and fulfillment as a reenactor of the Civil War, Revolutionary War, and a little bit of the French and Indian War. An avid reader, he left his mark and many bookmarks on countless volumes of historical study and the occasional work of fiction. Appreciative of music and drama, he trod the boards as a cast member of several Gilbert and Sullivan productions at Ocean County College. Although he enjoyed his hobbies and keeping up with political events, he found his greatest enjoyment in the company of his grandchildren.
Al was born to Dorothy and Albert Lingsch, and raised with his older sister, Patty (Bowen) in West Orange and Hillside. After graduating Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), where he played basketball and ran track, he began his teaching career at West Orange high school. In 1963 he married Diane McGlone, and moved “Down the Shore” to Toms River. He taught at Toms River High School for several years, and then moved to Central Regional, where he taught high school and middle school English until his retirement in 1998. While teaching, he earned his Master of Arts from Seton Hall University. In summers, he supported his family with a wide variety of jobs: driving a Greyhound bus, serving as a crossing guard in Ortley Beach, and roofing in the many retirement communities built in the Manchester area during the 1970s and 1980s.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Diane, and three children: Theresa Jespersen of Marietta, Georgia, Denise Corrigan of Philadelphia, PA, and Christopher Lingsch (and wife Jodi) of Alexandria, NH; grandchildren Alex Jespersen, Andrew Jespersen, Matthew Corrigan, Sarah Corrigan, Stratton Lingsch (Mariah), Jared Lingsch, Liam Lingsch; and four great-granddaughters (Isabella, Danielle, Kennedy, and Lenore). He loved them all.
A visitation for Albert will be held Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main Street, Toms River, NJ 08753, followed by a service from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, friends and family may consider donations to the American Battlefield Trust (www.battlefields.org).
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