Diane Dougherty

On July 12, Diane Dougherty passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was 74 years old. 

Born in Newark, N.J. on May 7, 1949, Diane moved with her family to Point Pleasant at an early age. She attended St. Peter’s School and graduated from Point Pleasant Boro High School in 1967, where she was two-time MVP of the Varsity basketball team. 

She met John Dougherty, the love of her life, on July 1, 1966 at the boardwalk. Two days later they had their first date, and have been together ever since. They celebrated 52 years of marriage in June. 

After high school, Diane attended Ocean County College and worked for Bell Telephone Company, before becoming a stay-at-home mom. She also worked for many years as a waitress at Peterson’s Riviera Inn, where she made many lifelong friends. Diane and John spent many happy years living in Point Pleasant, surrounded by their family and friends. They spent summers on the beach and Sundays cheering on the NY Giants at the Meadowlands during home games. She had cherished memories of her time spent at the family’s cabin in Belgrade Lakes, Maine. 

In 2004, Diane and John retired and moved to Carolina Shores, N.C., where she continued her beachgoing activities and became an avid gardener. Her backyard was her sanctuary, and she spent hours tending to her flowers and watching the birds who flocked there for her homemade bird food. 

She became an exercise enthusiast in retirement, regularly taking Zumba, yoga, and boot camp classes. She ran a 5K and enjoyed sunrise runs on the beach, and once beat the entire family in a planking challenge. 

But mostly she was proud of her daughters and grandchildren, and spent endless hours in the role of “grandma,” entertaining her grandkids while playing on the beach, “dinosaur hunting” in the local park, taking them on shopping sprees, and having pizza-making contests at home. 

Diane is survived by her devoted husband John, who fought with her every step of the way during her illness, her beloved daughters Shannon Rinaldi (Mike Rinaldi) and Jill Dykes (David Dykes), and her adored grandchildren Michael Rinaldi and Abby and Emmy Dykes. Diane was the loving sister of Gene, Michael, and Jimmy Monahan. She is also survived by her many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents, Muriel and Eugene Monahan. 

Details for a celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Diane’s memory to The American Cancer Society or St. Jude’s Children's Research Hospital.