Joseph Abelman

Jay (Joseph) Abelman gently passed away on April 25, 2020. He is survived by his daughter Shari J. Spitzer, son in law Justin L. Spitzer and his granddaughters Lindsay Paige and Kaitlyn Eve of Manalapan, NJ. He was predeceased by his sons Alan and Greg and his wife of forty-six years Sandee.

Jay was born on November 2, 1937 in Brooklyn, NY. He moved with his wife and children to Matawan, NJ in 1969. He stayed for 32 years before moving to Manalapan, NJ in 2006. In 2012 he moved to Applewood Estates in Freehold, NJ. There he made many connections and formed wonderful friendships within the community.

Jay was a larger than life man. Always full of humor and compassion. Never afraid to express his emotions. He loved to tell a story and make someone laugh or talk about old movies, Broadway shows and old songs from the 1940’s. He had the gift of remembering many dates in history and the details of events that happened on those dates. He and Shari often joked that the only date he had trouble remembering was her birthday.

Jay loved to work with his hands. He could fix just about anything. The neighbors were always calling needing something repaired. Whether it was an appliance, an electrical issue, trouble with a car or a hole in the wall, Jay always offered his services to get it fixed. He was a perfectionist, so nothing was ever left incomplete. He took great pride in getting a job well done. His efforts were always appreciated.

In his younger days Jay became passionate about musical theater. He joined community theater groups and was cast as the lead or costar in the Fantastiks, Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific, Damn Yankees, Milk and Honey and many other productions. He received rave reviews for his beautiful tenor voice and stellar acting skills. During his time at Applewood he became an integral part of the choir. He loved to sing. Music brought him great joy and happiness. Again, he wowed the audience with his incredible vocals. Residents would often tell him that his voice was a precious gift. It made him happy to entertain his friends and the rest of the community. He had a strong presence at Applewood. He will be missed by many.

Jay leaves behind many years of wonderful memories. His voice may have faded but he will never be forgotten.

Donations in his memory can be sent to The United Leukodystrophy Foundation 224 N. Second Street, Ste. 2 DeKalb, IL 60115