Matawan's First Female Police Commissioner Dies at 91

M. Virginia (Hotaling) Christinat, 91, passed away on Jan. 7 at Seabrook Village Renaissance Gardens in Tinton Falls with her family by her side. She was born Sept. 15, 1920 in Matawan and lived in Matawan for most of her life. She also resided in Lima, Peru and for the last 10 years in Tinton Falls. She graduated from Matawan High School class of 1937. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Keyport, St. Clements, Matawan and Holy Innocents, Neptune.

Virginia was active in her community, having served as a Councilwoman for Matawan Borough, the first woman Police Commissioner in the history of Matawan, and a volunteer with the Red Bank and Matawan YMCA. She was a member of the Matawan Women’s Club and sang in the St. Clements Choir. Virginia was the last of the “Matawan Hotaling Girls”: Dottie, Nina, Ginny and Cynt.

Virginia was predeceased by her husband, Leon G. Christinat in 1977 and her parents, Ross B. and Mary Hotaling; and her three sisters, Dorothea Kinney, Nina Whitehill, and Cynthia Klatt. Surviving are her two daughters, Diane C. Lynch and her husband, Robert, of Belmar and Karen L. Christinat of Alexandria, Virginia; two loving grandchildren: Mark C. Lynch and his wife Leilany Silva Lima Lynch of Santa Barbara, California, and Matthew J. Lynch of Asbury Park. Also surviving are many loving nieces and nephews, especially Mandy, Cindy, Patty and John.

Please contact for funeral service arrangements at 732-264-0499. Interment will take place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Keyport. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be sent to the Community YMCA, 113 Tindall Road, Middletown, NJ 07748. Please visit Virginia’s memorial donations available at www.sidun.com.