Obituary of Patricia Gardner Genthner

Patricia Gardner Genthner, 90, of Freehold Township passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Patricia, or “Pat” as she was known, was born in Saugerties, N.Y., but sailed many leagues beyond the small town with her life’s companion and husband of 68 years, Richard A. Genthner. Theirs was a remarkable, life-long partnership for family, faith, adventure and community service. Pat was an English teacher at Summit Junior High School and the Berkeley Heights Schools where she taught hundreds of children the stories of Greek mythology, the foundations of proper writing, and shared her ardent love of theatre through the plays of William Shakespeare. Her teachings on Sunday were focused on her deep devotion to the Lutheran faith. She served as a councilwoman at several congregations and was most recently a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, East Windsor Township. Pat also led many young girls, including her daughters, in the Girl Scout tradition. She was a world traveler who visited 80 countries and all continents including the polar ice fields of Antarctica. Pat’s was a life rich in contributions and accomplishments but these pale in comparison to the extraordinary singular, loving devotion she shared with Richard for essentially her entire life. In addition to her husband Richard, surviving are her three daughters and sons-in-law, Amy and John Brogan, Lisa and Paul Fechhelm, and Sally and William Hespe; and six grandchildren, Kate Brogan and Clare Brogan Jenkin, Henry and Stuart Fechhelm, and Marshall and Meredith Hespe. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 79 One Mile Road Ext., East Windsor, NJ 08520 would be appreciated. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold is in charge of arrangements.