Stuart J. Thomas

Born December 7, 1942 in Paterson, son of the late Benjamin and Naomi Thomas, he was raised in Elmwood Park and moved to Shark River Hills, before settling in Farmingdale, NJ nearly 30 years ago.

He was a member of the US Coast Guard Reserve, graduated from William Paterson College in 1964, attended SUNY New Paltz, and went on to earn his M.S. in Photography from the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago in 1971. He was a lifelong photographer whose interest in documenting American culture was matched by his spirit for travel.

With a career of more than 40 years in higher education, he retired from Brookdale Community College as Professor of Photography in 2015.

He was also a gifted ceramicist who loved spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Joanna; his children, Hannah Thomas-Cunniff and Owen Thomas; his grandchildren, Theodore Thomas-Cunniff and Callum Thomas-Cunniff; his nephew, Barry Thomas, and other family and friends.

Cremation was private and under the direction of Horizon Funeral and Cremation Services, Toms River.

There will be a Celebration of Stuart's Life Service on Saturday, December 3rd,

12pm to 4 pm at McLoone's Asbury Grille, 1200 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Stuart's memory to the ALS Association at www.alsa.org/donate/