Goodbye Gator

Many years ago after the passing of a close friend my father said, “The worst thing about getting older is you know more people who die.”  As I have gotten older I have used that quote far too many times and the latest one really hurts.  Edward Graichen, known to many as “Gator” passed away earlier this week at the age of 79 following heart related complications.

Of our group of close friends that he was a part of I probably knew him the longest. Eddie worked for my father on the Seaside Heights boardwalk either during or right after his time at Seton Hall.  I was probably 12 years old and remember him working the BB gun game for at least a few summers.  Anyway I next connected with him at Central Regional High School.  He was a new teacher and I was a senior who had him for study hall at the end of the day. Then Mr. Graichen he used to let us leave early so we could go to Sorrento’s Subs in Beachwood and still get back for after school sports as we were on split sessions.

He of course would have a very successful career coaching boy’s soccer at Lacey and then guiding the Toms River South girls to back-to-back state championships in 2001 & 2002.  Eddie was a guidance counselor at both those schools and later finished up his career at Donovan Catholic.

He also dealt with hardships losing the love of his life and mother of his three sons Kathy at age 51 and his son Matt at just 35 years old.  Despite that he would find joy in following his beloved Seton Hall Pirates and the many friends he shared time with whether it was a card game, lunch or just enjoying a “pop” or two.

His true joy though was his sons Todd & Chad and his grandchildren who he was immensely proud of and relished the moments he spent with them. They have lost a father and grandfather and many of us have lost a great friend.

You can pay your respects on Monday from 2:00 to 6:00 at Anderson & Campbell in downtown Toms River with the funeral on Tuesday at 11:00 at St. Barnabas in Bayville where Ed served as an usher for many years.

RIP Gator, it was an honor to call you a friend.