Funeral Services Set For Roden S. Lightbody, Former Toms River Mayor

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday and Friday for Roden S. Lightbody, the former mayor of Toms River and retired Ocean County traffic safety engineer who died May 4.

His obituary on the Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home website says visitation for Lightbody will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, at the funeral home, 703 Main Street, Toms River. A church service will be held beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, May 12, at the Presbyterian Church of Toms River, 1070 Hooper Ave., the website said.

Lightbody, whose decades of public service were praised by local and county officials who had known him going back to his earliest days of public service, was a strong, well respected and very proud public servant, his family wrote in his obituary.

"He wore many different faces, his most treasured was Santa. With a sparkle in his eye, he brought joy to many and cherished the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. Another face he wore many did not know, was that of Litterman for Dover Township. He began a campaign to clean up our town, showing up in cape and mask encouraging all to be responsible citizens for a clean environment," his family wrote.

"He proudly wore his kilt and sash every St. Patrick's Day in pride and love of his Irish heritage. His strong Irish tenor voice will be missed by many. Always quick with joke, Roden enjoyed making people smile and laugh even in the worst of situations. He advocated for many, was a voice for those who did not have one and he was truly good at everything that mattered," his family said.

>> READ MORE: Roden S. Lightbody, 'Mr. Dover Township,' Mourned In Toms River

In addition to his 48-year career as the Ocean County traffic safety engineer and his service as mayor and on the Dover Township Committee, where he was the liaison to the township's police, fire and EMS services, Lightbody was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Toms River, his obituary said.

"Roden's long history of community involvement included many organizations and he received numerous awards and recognition throughout his lifetime. In the end, he would say, it was not the recognition that mattered, it was serving others that fulfilled him," his family wrote.

Lightbody, who was born in New Rochelle, NY, and moved to Toms River at age 9, was a graduate of Toms River High School, "the only high school in Toms River, he would often say," and attended Rutgers University.

He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Della Lightbody, his loving sister and brother, Barbara Banfield and Robert Lightbody. Surviving are his wife, Norvella (Pug); his two daughters and their husbands, Dr. Teri Kubiel and Councilman Brian Kubiel, and Elizabeth Lightbody-Cimer and Dr. Robert Cimer; his pride and joy, his beautiful grandchildren, Kevan, Kayla, Aaron, Aidan and Aryonna; his brothers and their wives, John and Carole Lightbody, William and Maureen Lightbody, James and Missy Lightbody and George and Judy Lightbody; his sister-in-law, Carol Lightbody, and several loving nieces and nephews.

"In the words of an old Irish toast … May the sound of happy music, and lilt of Irish laughter, fill your heart with gladness, that stays forever after," his family wrote. Donations to Community Medical Center in care of the Foundation Office, 99 Route 37 West, Toms River, are requested in lieu of flowers.

Image via Shutterstock; Roden S. Lightbody mayoral portrait from Toms River's council chamber