Funeral Services Set For Retired Seaside Heights Capt. LaStella

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ — Funeral services have been set for Jan. 4 and 5 for retired Seaside Heights Police Capt. Gerald LaStella, who died Christmas morning.

The Seaside Heights Police Department said the viewing will be 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 4 at Ryan Home for Funerals on St. Catherine Boulevard, Toms River, with the funeral at 10 a.m. Jan. 5 at St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Church, Seaside Park.

LaStella served on the Seaside Heights force for 26 years, following in his father's footsteps, and later was the chief police instructor at the Ocean County Police Academy. He started his career as a dispatcher in 1968 and was hired as a police officer in 1970. He graduated from the Municipal Police Academy in Sea Girt in June 1970, according to an Asbury Park Press report at the time. He was promoted to captain in 1986, and retired from the force Dec. 31, 1993, Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz said.

Friends posting on Facebook remembered LaStella as a gentleman and a good friend.

LaStella was "a class act that had his finger on the pulse of what being a great cop was," wrote John Wissel, who said he met LaStella in 1989. "Thanks for the laughs knowledge and being a beacon of morality to those up and coming."

"He was always nice and a gentleman to me, even when I was a young boardwalk worker," Joel Di Orio wrote. "Thanks for not letting me get in trouble when I was wild and crazy. ... must have had a problem that they needed Capt. LaStella’s calm demeanor up there in Heaven on Christmas Day."

Several law enforcement agencies offered their condolences on Facebook as well, and highlighted his role with the Ocean County Police Academy.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of retired Seaside Heights Police Department Captain Jerry LaStella, who passed away on Christmas morning," Manchester police said.

"On behalf of Sheriff Michael Mastronardy and the entire staff at the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, we send our thoughts and prayers to the family of retired Seaside Heights Police Captain Jerry LaStella," " the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post. "He left his mark on many future police officers!"

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fellow officers," the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office wrote. "Rest in Peace Captain LaStella."

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"Anyone who knows this familiar face has laughed once or a thousand times. Captain Jerry LaStella, you devoted your whole life to your law enforcement career," a Facebook user named Ant Zap wrote, saying he specialized in scaring "thousands of recruits and making them smile when it’s all over. A man that the lucky ones will remember as a great man and a better friend!"

"The law enforcement world lost a LEGEND," Brett Charles wrote. "This man was my chief instructor when I went through the police academy. ... when push came to shove this man would do anything to coach you into being a better recruit, cop, and all-around human being. He taught us many important things in life and I will be forever grateful."

" 'Why be a wanna-be when you’re going to be a be-be?' " Charles quoted LaStella as saying. "Rest In Peace Capt... we certainly will miss you."

Ed Bennett, who worked for and with LaStella for more than 36 years, said he was "a smart man with a big heart. He cared. He cared about his family, his friends, his profession and for the thousands of police officers and police recruits he taught and mentored. He had a great sense of humor and always shared his contagious smile."

"I remember a quote from the movie, 'A Christmas Carol.' What Scrooge became Jerry was: 'Jerry Was As Good A Friend, As Good A Master, And As Good A Man As The Good Old City Knew, Or Any Other Good Old City, Town, Or Borough, In The Good Old World.' "

LaStella was born in West Orange and attended West Orange High School. He moved to Seaside Heights in 1960, and later moved to Toms River, according to his obituary on the Ryan Home For Funerals website.

He was a postal carrier before he went to work for Seaside Heights as a dispatcher. He also served in the U.S. Army National Reserves. He was a past member of the Seaside Heights Volunteer Fire Company, a lifetime member of PBA Local 252, and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He was a member of the Narcotics & Dangerous Drug Committee, Bias Crime & Organized Crime Committee, and Juvenile Justice Committee. He also was a member of the National Missing and Exploited Children.

Jerry was predeceased by his father Gerald LaStella and mother Mary Kary. Surviving is his wife of 38 years, Barbara LaStella; his sons, Gerald LaStella of Bayville; Vincent LaStella and his wife, Maryann, of Toms River; John LaStella of Seaside Heights; Justin LaStella of Toms River, and Raymond LaStella of DelRay Beach, Florida. He is also survived by six grandchildren; Jay, Nicole, Alexandra, Nico, J.P, and Jake.

This article was updated with additional information from his obituary.

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