James J. Camoosa, 79, of Red Bank, formerly of Oakhurst, died on November 10th at Monmouth Medical Center.

Jimmy was born and raised in Asbury Park; he graduated from St. Rose High School and was a member of the state champion basketball team in 1963, and graduated from Monmouth College. He lived most of his life in Oakhurst, and was a charter member and later president of the Italian American Association of Ocean Township. Over the years, he was a force in the development of the annual Italian American Festival, where he could be found making zeppoles every August. Jimmy was also a long-time member of the Deal Golf and Country Club, where he served for many years as Membership Chairman. Jimmy had more than a few jobs over the course of his life, from banking to auto finance to a limousine service. But it was when he got involved in construction that he found his calling. While he built houses throughout New Jersey, what he loved most was the action, putting contractors and subcontractors together to get the project done. When at home he always had the TV on, flipping between football, golf, and a James Bond movie. He never went a day without playing the lottery, and especially loved scratch-offs.

While he may have had many jobs, finding his calling in construction, it was one of his first jobs that was the most consequential. It was there, at Chase Manhattan Bank in Manhattan, that he and Fran, his wife of 52 years, met. It was maybe a bit of serendipity, when this guy from Asbury Park met this woman recently relocated from Ohio, when their departments were consolidated. They married and moved to Ocean Township, where they lived for 50 years. For many years they spent their Friday evenings and Sunday mornings gathering at Jimmy’s parents’ house for weekly dinners and breakfasts with their large, extended family. He and Fran spent most evenings eating out at various restaurants in Monmouth County, catching up on their days. This is something they especially cherished over the last year.

Jimmy loved his daughter, Gena, and his two grandchildren, Olivia and Miles. He called her almost every day, asking, “Hi my sweetie. How are you and how’s my kids?” They loved going on long drives down the beach together, to the occasional Devils game, and dinners at Vic’s. He wanted to hear about “Pop’s boy” (Miles) and “the Liv” (Olivia) – he had a nickname for almost everyone. He enjoyed taking them to the boardwalk and to Disney World in Florida.

Jimmy was affectionately known as “Moose” to his many friends, who he knew through Deal, the Italian American Association, work, and his Asbury Park neighborhood. Moose loved playing golf and cards with them, and taking trips to Florida, Mississippi, Las Vegas, and Boston. They were like family to him. He was a parishioner of St. Michael’s Church, Long Branch.

Jimmy was pre-deceased by his parents, Fannie and Michael Camoosa, and his sister, Rosemarie Brundage. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Fran Camoosa; their daughter and son-in-law, Gena Camoosa and Brian Connolly, Brooklyn; his grandchildren, Olivia Connolly and Miles Connolly; his brother Michael and his wife, Rosie Camoosa, Wanamassa; his nieces and nephews, Kristin Hand, Andrea Stefanelli, Karen Konawalik, Paul Brundage, and Dean Brundage, and their children.

Visitation Friday, Nov. 15th 4 to 7 pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 S. Holmdel Road, Holmdel. Mass of Christian Burial, Saturday, Nov. 16th, 9:30 am at St. Michael’s RC Church, Long Branch. Entombment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Neptune. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Interfaith Neighbors (https: interfaithneighbors.org) To share a favorite memory or send a message of condolence please visit Jimmy’s page of tributes