Robert Hughes Bennekamper, age 79 years, of Brick Township, NJ, died on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at Ocean Medical Center, Brick, NJ.

Born in Rahway, NJ, August 4, 1941, son of the late P. Walter Bennekamper and Alta Mae Hughes Bennekamper, Bob was raised in Rahway, NJ and had lived for many years in Green Brook, NJ prior to moving to Brick more than thirty years ago.

A 1959 graduate of Rahway High School, Bob attended Union County College and worked for more than forty years with American Steel Erectors, South Plainfield, NJ, both as a project manager and estimator.

Bob’s knowledge and commitment to his work, along with a big heart for being helpful, would come into play on September 11, 2001.

Having several work sites in New York City at the time, Bob and a number of his colleagues immediately made their way to the city and moved their equipment right to Ground Zero to assist for several days with what, at first, was hoped to be a rescue/recovery operation.

This compassionate man, with an omnipresent smile, enjoyed gatherings and parties. Bob was at his best when he knew others were having fun and enjoying life. He had many hobbies to help keep him and his friends smiling: from cheering for the New York Giants to eating White Castle hamburgers (by the sack) at all hours, from attending the races at Wall Stadium to playing the slots at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City, he loved to have a good time!

A true “New Jersey Boy”, Bob grew up dreaming of having a boat and a house down the shore. From a child when he saved his newspaper route money to buy a rowboat named the ‘Leaking Lena’ to now, Bob had a passion for the waters of New Jersey. His involvement in conservation of the beaches and waterways of New Jersey ran so deep that he served as Vice-President of Clean Ocean Action and was very involved over the years with their activities to raise awareness and promote social responsibility.

The shore house dream came to fruition when Bob married Patricia Younack on November 17, 1990 in Allaire State Park and the couple settled in the Metedeconk River section of Brick Township.

It was in Brick where Bob’s life was more fully lived on the water. Captaining many boats, both large and small, he thoroughly enjoyed dining on his boat while watching the sunset. He was particularly proud of the 37’ wooden Chris-Craft powerboat which he restored.

Bob thoroughly enjoyed being a grandfather, attending many games and school functions.

Surviving are his beloved wife of thirty years, Patricia (Younack) Bennekamper; his sister, Reverend Diane Bennekamper and her spouse, Lorraine Martin; his daughter Lisa (Bennekamper) Coulter; his son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Margaret Bennekamper; his step-children, John Tokarzewski, Lisa Boehm and her husband, John, and Steven and his wife, Patricia Tokarzewski; his grandchildren Bryan Bennekamper, Kevin Bennekamper, Amanda Imboden and her husband Robert, John Boehm and his wife, Marissa, Steven Tokarzewski, Dana Tokarzewski, and United States Army Sgt. Jake Tokarzewski; his great granddaughter, Maggie Imboden; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family; and many friends made wherever Bob and his smile traveled.

A gathering of family and friends will take place on Thursday, January 7, 2021 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822.

A life celebration service, officiated by Bob’s sister, Rev. Diane Bennekamper, will follow the gathering and begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. Realizing that many people will be unable to attend due to the current pandemic restrictions, the service will be live-streamed with the following link being active starting at 6:45 p.m. the night of the service; click HERE to watch the funeral service live.

Also understanding that many who would like to speak that evening might not be able to attend, anyone wishing to have their thoughts shared during the service are asked to share them by clicking HERE or emailing careteam@wrightfamily.com. Please include your full contact information.

Kindly remember that given the current state of the pandemic, masks must be worn at all times on funeral home grounds, and social distancing must be maintained. Due to the volume of people expected and the rules regarding maximum capacity in buildings, we ask that you remain cognizant of your time spent at the funeral home so that others can also spend time and pay their respects.Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival .

You are encouraged to visit Bob’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

For those who wish to honor this man who strongly believed in protecting the waterways and beaches of New Jersey and the entire world, contributions in his honor made be made to Clean Ocean Action, via mail to 49 Avenel Boulevard, Long Branch, NJ 07740, or online by clicking HERE. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated by the family.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”