Brick Man Remembered For Abundant Love For Family And Hometown

BRICK, NJ — Navey Celeste remembers watching her father, John, unloading lobster traps at the commercial fishing docks in Point Pleasant Beach when she was little.

"I grew up on the docks watching him unload traps and holding lobsters." She was 7 or 8 at the time, and John Celeste worked with his brother, Stephen, as a commercial lobster fisherman back then. "He would take me on the little blue boats at the dock and we would fish and crab."

When the tide was low enough, "he would help me get the starfish under the docks."

"I love being by the ocean because it reminds me of him," Naverine "Navey" Celeste said Wednesday, as she reminisced about her father, who died Monday.

John Celeste, 51, died when he was hit by a car while crossing Herbertsville Road in Brick near Havens Farm. The driver of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta stopped and tried to perform CPR with the assistance of a passerby, but was unable to save his life, Brick Township police said.

The crash remains under investigation, and Navey Celeste has issued pleas for anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact the police department. Patrolman David Thergesen, 732-262-1140, is the investigating officer.

A candlight vigil was held Wednesday at the crash site, near Havens Farm on Herbertsville Road.

On Sunday, a memorial gathering will be held at Colonial Funeral Home, 1045 Sally Ike Road, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a funeral service at 6 p.m.

John grew up just down the road, in a home on Sateroja Road with his parents, Jeannette and Stephen Celeste Sr., and two brothers, William and Stephen Jr. He attended Veterans Memorial Elementary School and Veterans Memorial Middle School and graduated from Brick Memorial High School. He had worked for ShopRite in the seafood department, and had worked for Bekins moving company in Tuckerton, Navey said.

"Even when he didn’t live there (in Brick), he always would find his way back, it’s home," she said. "He always loved the area and had wonderful lifelong friends."

He was the kind of person who worried more about those around him than himself, Navey Celeste said. "He would give his last dollar and shirt off his back when he had nothing."

"We got to spend this New Year's with him and I'm so happy we did," she said. "My dad has been through a lot. He was living without electric for months and he got to have a nice warm New Year's with us and eat warm food."

"My dad never complained and the poor man has been through hell but always made sure Jaelen and I were OK," she wrote. Jaelen was John's little best friend, "as he would say, 'that’s my little buddy.' "

He took his grandson fishing and to the movies, on adventures and for sleepovers.

"He took him fishing when I was at work and they caught this turtle in our back yard," Navey said. "We would all go fishing together in Burnt Tavern Manor in the back lake, and at Ocean County Park even though we weren't allowed. My dad loved going there with us. We would catch the catfish and sunnies and feed the ducks and geese."

John and Jaelen would play videogames, too, but one of Jaelen's favorite things was baking with John. "Jaelen always wanted to bake and my dad would say yes no matter what," she said. Their favorite treat to bake was brownies with frosting.

"He really is such a selfless soul. He was one of a kind with a beautiful warm soul and a contagious laugh and smile," Navey said. "The most wonderful, caring father a girl could ask for — supportive and the best cheering section. His smile could light up a room and his laughter made you smile no matter how bad things were."

John Celeste was preceded in death by his parents, Jeannette L. and Stephen S. Celeste. Surviving are his daughter, Naverine Celeste, grandson Jaelen Celeste, his brothers, William and Stephen, and nieces and nephews.

A GoFundme campaign was set up by Navey's cousin to help with the funeral expenses. Those who wish can click here for information or to donate.

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