Friends Seek Help For Family Of Man Hit By Car While Walking His Dog

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Friends of a Toms River man who died after he was hit by a car Saturday evening in Toms River are seeking help for his family to cover his funeral expenses.

Joseph Bartolotta, 81, died Saturday, Sept. 23 after he was hit by a car on Whittier Avenue, when he went out to walk his Jack Russell terrier.

Bartolotta was born at home on 16th street in Newark on June 1, 1936, to the late Antonio and Louisa (Ruggierio) Bartolotta, according to his obituary on the Silverton Memorial Funeral Home website.

He was a devoted husband to his wife of 60 years, Carol (Cortese), and also is survived by his children and their spouses: Joanne and Chuck Nelson, Karen and Peter Minervini, Jimmy and Lori Bartolotta, Donna and Eric Schaertl, and Susan and Steve Kuzniewski; his sister, Frances and her husband James Peterson; his brother, John, and his wife, Aimee Bartolotta. He was a very proud “Pop Pop Joe” to 14 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren (plus one due any time now). He was predeceased by his beloved grandson, Jared.

Joe was a very hard working man who worked and lived every day for his family, which meant everything to him. He was a master butcher for Local No. 464 and worked in several supermarkets and local butcher shops, as he always had a part-time job or two on the side. He loved trains, real or toy and Christmas will never be the same without him! His passion for God and Christmas will proudly be carried on by his grandkids.

Visitation was Wednesday. The funeral Mass is set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday at at St. Justin Roman Catholic Church, 975 Fischer Blvd., Toms River. "Please come and celebrate his life with us all together as one because that’s all he ever really wanted in life," his obituary said. Gather at Silverton Memorial Funeral Home, 2482 Church Rd., Toms River, at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Cremation will be private.

Friends are trying to raise funds to help cover his funeral expenses.

On a GoFundme account, Beverly Snyder, friend of Joe's daughter, Joanne Bartolotta Nelson, wrote:

"She needs our help desperately to gather the funds necessary to put her daddy to rest and I am reaching out to you, her friends, the people who love her as much as I do, for any help at all that you may be able to provide," Snyder wrote.

"Not asking for much, $5, $10, every little bit helps," Snyder wrote. "It was a terrible way for him to pass, please don't also allow it to also be a terrible burden on Joanne and her family to fall through the cracks as they try to piece together what they need to say goodbye in a dignified and loving way."

The GoFundme campaign can be accessed here.

Joseph Bartolotta photo via his obituary on the Silverton Memorial Funeral Home website; Candle image via Shutterstock