Joseph C. Hathaway Jr. Of Barnegat Dies Suddenly In Accident At 26

Courtesy of Maxwell-Tobie Funeral Home

Joseph C. Hathaway Jr, 26, of Barnegat died suddenly on Nov. 3, 2016.

He was a 2009 graduate of Barnegat High School, a 2012 graduate of Ocean Community College and a 2014 graduate of Stockton University with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science. He was pursuing a certification in paralegal studies at Brookdale College, where he dreamed of eventually becoming a lawyer and running for President someday.

He was a talented public speaker, and gave commencement speeches at both his high school and college graduations. Through the Dare To Dream program, he gave many speeches about overcoming his learning disability and encouraging others to not let anything hold them back from their own dreams. He was a long- time hardworking employee at Wawa in Barnegat. If you knew Joseph - you knew he left a mark on everyone he met and loved to tell you all about his love of Creed, the Boston Celtics, Pepsi, Dominos' Pizza, karaoke, politics, Honda, Washington, D.C. and of course, his family.

He is predeceased by his father, Joseph C. Hathaway Sr, whom he lost in 2015 and missed dearly.

He is survived by his loving mother, Diane, his sister Tara and brother-in-law, Jeremy Larsen, his sister Laura and brother-in-law Jon Christiansen Jr., his favorite niece Allison and his nephews - his little buddies, Luke, Troy, Sean and Kyle. His Meme, Mary Hathaway of Dedham, MA and grandparents Paul and Mildred of Port St. Lucie, FL. He will be in the hearts of his large family of dear aunts and uncles and many close cousins. He touched so many friends' lives by his constant enthusiasm and love of life.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, at Maxwell-Tobie Funeral Home, 573 Mill Creek Road, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Thursday, Nov.10 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Barnegat, NJ. Interment will follow at Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Human Rights Campaign at www.hrc.org Online condolences may be sent at www.MaxwellTobieFH.com

Image : Patch file photo.