Alfred J. Thorne, 91 the Retired Chief of Police of West Long Branch, died on Jan. 31st surrounded by his family.

Chief Thorne was born and raised in Long Branch and settled in West Long Branch in 1960. A devoted parishioner of St. Michael’s RC Church, where he and his wife Lynn were active in the St. Vincent DePaul Society. Chief Thorne served in the U.S. Marine Corp. during Korea and was Honorably Discharged. He loved his morning walks on the boardwalk in Long Branch. Chief Thorne was an avid fan of the New York Yankees, the New York Giants and the New York Knicks. He possessed a vast knowledge of baseball statistics and particularly enjoyed discussing them with his grandson. He never missed a sporting event, school play, or graduation. Family was everything to the Chief.

He and his wife enjoyed travel in their retirement visiting Ireland, Italy, Alaska, San Francisco, New Orleans, Cape Cod and Mackinac Island, Michigan. The Chief was an active member of the Monmouth County Police Chiefs Association, West Long Branch PBA, the Long Branch Elks, The VFW of Ocean Twp., Chief Thorne was an Exempt Member of West Long Branch Fire Co. #2. He was a member of the Old Guard, the West Long Branch Leisure Club and the Knights of Columbus.

Chief Thorne along with his wife and daughters were active volunteers in the annual Michael Thorne Memorial Run, in honor of their son and brother who died in 1984.

He was predeceased by his parents, Rose and William Thorne, his son Michael W. And his sister, Eileen Patterson.

Surviving is his wife of 67 years, Marilyn Thorne; four daughters, Mary Lee Thorne, Nancy Thorne, Patricia and her husband Greg Zimmermann and Susan and her husband Joseph Daigle; four grandchildren, Jessica and her husband Eulices, Michael, Cara and Joanie; 2 great grandchildren, Dante and Gabriella.

Visitation, Sunday Feb. 4th, from 2 to 6 pm at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home, 10 Morrell Street, Long Branch. Mass of Christian Burial, Monday Feb. 5th, 10:30 am at St. Michael’s RC Church, Long Branch. Interment Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport. In lieu of flowers contributions in Chief Thorne’s memory may be made to the Michael W. Thorne Scholarship Fund, PO Box, 442, West Long Branch, NJ 07764.