Fisherman Who Died On Freehold Twp. Lake Identified

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — The fisherman whose body was recovered last week after he fell overboard into Lake Topanemus has been identified as a Monmouth County man, the Monmouth County prosecutor's office confirmed Tuesday. Ryan Hoblitzell, 30, of Tinton Falls, was pronounced dead at 3:36 p.m. on Thursday after he was recovered from the lake, prosecutor's office spokesman Charles Webster said. The cause of death will be determined by the Middlesex County Regional Medical Examiner's Office, he said.

Ryan Hoblitzell was born Oct. 29, 1986 in Freehold and raised there. A 2005 graduate of Freehold High School, he graduated from Georgian Court University in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in nursing, according to information on his LinkedIn account. A registered nurse, Hoblitzell worked in the cardiac care unit at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, according to his obituary on the Shore Point Funeral Home website.

On the page for a GoFundMe campaign that was set up to assist with funeral expenses, Hoblitzell is described as an avid fisherman who grew up fishing on Lake Topanemus, "where he spent countless days fishing and spending time with family and friends." The campaign, launched Sept. 29, exceeded its goal in three days.

"Ryan was a kind and charismatic man," the campaign post reads. "He dedicated his life to helping others by becoming a nurse at Jersey Shore Medical Center."

Hoblitzell and his wife, Allison, were just weeks from celebrating their third wedding anniversary, according to the post. "The love between them was infectious. The two have built a life and family together with their dog Dexter. Words can not even begin to express how deeply sorry we are for this terrible loss."

Webster said Freehold Township police responded to 3:40 a.m. 911 call about a fisherman who had fallen into the lake. Authorities searched for 12 hours and recovered Hoblitzell's body at 3:14 p.m., he said. Hoblitzell was pronounced dead about 20 minutes later.

"We wish to thank the following agencies for their assistance with this incident: Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Freehold Township Police Department, Freehold Borough Police Department, East Freehold Fire Company, Middletown Fire Department, Squankum Fire Department, Jackson Mills Fire Company, NJ Transit, MONOC, and Freehold EMS," Webster said.

Hoblitzell was predeceased by his mother-in-law, Kathleen (O'Shea) Mancino. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his parents, William C. and Maryann (Peterlin) Hoblitzell, his grandmother, Margaret Peterlin, his brother, Eric W. Hoblitzell, Eric's wife Brooke and a host of other family members.

Funeral services were held Tuesday.

Donations in Hoblitzell's memory to Clean Ocean Action (click here) are requested in lieu of flowers. For information, directions or to send condolences to the family, please visit the Shore Point Funeral Home website.

Ryan Hoblitzell photo via Shore Point Funeral Home; candle photo via Shutterstock