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November 5, 2023
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 10am – 12pm on Friday, November 10, 2023 at Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470. A funeral service will be held at 12 pm on Friday, November 10 at the funeral home following visiting hours.
Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, 106 Bartholdi Ave, Butler, NJ.
Clarence Place, 96, of Seaside Park, NJ, formerly of Wayne, NJ, passed away Sunday, November 5, 2023, in the comfort of his family.
“Keep moving” was his motto. Born in Brooklyn, NY, “Buddy” sure did keep moving. He attended Grover Cleveland High School, took a job delivering meat, and then worked for Transogram Toy Factory in Long Island City. At 16 years old his family moved to Wayne, where he worked for Heyer Schultz as a metal polisher and then lathe operator. At 17 years old he got permission to join the Navy. He bravely served with the Seabees and was sent to Okinawa where he was stationed at Yellow Beach #3.
In June of 1946, he left the service and went back to work for Heyer Schultz. In 1947, his brother Bill took over his job and Buddy then went to work at the Parker Shell Gas Station. After that he became a Fireman on a steam engine for the Lackawanna Railroad. He also worked in a machine shop for Ernie Miles and delivered coal for Bailey & Winters.
In those days there were Fireman’s Fairs at the Parish Oval ball field in Wayne. His future father-in-law, Yustus Wenderoth, was Chief of Community Fire Company #1 at the time. And it was there that he met his sweetheart, Roberta “Bobbie” Wenderoth, while giving her quarters to play the games. They were married in 1952. His boss, Ernie Miles, let him borrow his car for the wedding. They settled in Wayne, building a house on Market Street with the help of his in-laws, Yustus and Ann Wenderoth, who also had a home next door. Both houses were later relocated across the street when Route 80 was established. They had two wonderful children, Robert and Susan. They all enjoyed many backyard picnics and barbecues, usually serenaded by the family “band”. Buddy also purchased a boat, named it “Windy”, and had many days of fun with swimming and water skiing at Greenwood Lake, and crabbing at the Jersey Shore.
During their early married years, Buddy worked for Richtex Company doing laminating and embossing. The company became a division of Firestone, where he became a foreman and then Assistant Plant Manager. In 1974, he and his wife Bobbie purchased a house in Seaside Park, NJ, where after retiring from Firestone in 1981, he did commercial crabbing with 100 pots in the bay from 1982-1983. He later built a new home on a lagoon in Forked River, but relocated back to Seaside Park, eventually building another home just a block and a half away from their first home.
To keep “busy” he became a part-time bartender for Gabriel’s Hotel and Restaurant. He further served his community in Wayne by being on the Planning Board from 1972-1979, and Chairman in 1974. He also purchased a motorhome and took many trips.
Buddy and Bobbie eventually sold their house in Wayne and settled permanently in Seaside Park where they spent many years enjoying the beach, their boat, and time relaxing together on their front porch. He stopped working for a short time, but, being a life-long avid golfer, he went to work for the Cedar Creek Golf Course in Berkeley Township 3-4 days a week at 80 years old. He retired from that job in December of 2018 at the age of 92.
Always known for his friendly and helpful demeanor, he had his supply inventory of fix-it’s to help anyone in need. Being an accomplished self-taught builder, carpenter, electrician, plumber, etc. he was one-of-a-kind. And the best cheek pincher ever!
Clarence is predeceased, only three weeks prior, by his loving wife of 71 years, Roberta “Bobbie” Place. He is survived by his son Robert Place, Patricia Place, granddaughter Krysti Place and her partner Jeffrey Palmer, and great-grandson Chase; his daughter Susan Gabriel, son-in-law John, granddaughter Jennifer Denovchik and husband Chris, great-granddaughter Emelia, and great-grandson Chris Jr., granddaughter Laurie Tormollan and husband Adam; sister-in-law Dorothy Mazurkiewicz and husband Ed, nephew Michael Mazurkiewicz and his wife Laura, and their son Eric, nephew Ed Mazurkiewicz and wife Kimmy, and their daughter Emily and son Matthew; and sister Denny Knight and her husband Dave.
He was a remarkable man who led a remarkable life. A loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, friend, and neighbor. Keep moving indeed. And while he will be truly and sorely missed, we will continue to celebrate his incredible life well-lived.
We love you always and forever.
Safe journey home.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family from 10am – 12pm on Friday, November 10, 2023 at Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470. A funeral service will be held at 12 pm on Friday, November 10 at the funeral home following visiting hours.
Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, 106 Bartholdi Ave, Butler, NJ.
November 5, 2023
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 10am – 12pm on Friday, November 10, 2023 at Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470. A funeral service will be held at 12 pm on Friday, November 10 at the funeral home following visiting hours.
Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, 106 Bartholdi Ave, Butler, NJ.
Clarence Place, 96, of Seaside Park, NJ, formerly of Wayne, NJ, passed away Sunday, November 5, 2023, in the comfort of his family.
“Keep moving” was his motto. Born in Brooklyn, NY, “Buddy” sure did keep moving. He attended Grover Cleveland High School, took a job delivering meat, and then worked for Transogram Toy Factory in Long Island City. At 16 years old his family moved to Wayne, where he worked for Heyer Schultz as a metal polisher and then lathe operator. At 17 years old he got permission to join the Navy. He bravely served with the Seabees and was sent to Okinawa where he was stationed at Yellow Beach #3.
In June of 1946, he left the service and went back to work for Heyer Schultz. In 1947, his brother Bill took over his job and Buddy then went to work at the Parker Shell Gas Station. After that he became a Fireman on a steam engine for the Lackawanna Railroad. He also worked in a machine shop for Ernie Miles and delivered coal for Bailey & Winters.
In those days there were Fireman’s Fairs at the Parish Oval ball field in Wayne. His future father-in-law, Yustus Wenderoth, was Chief of Community Fire Company #1 at the time. And it was there that he met his sweetheart, Roberta “Bobbie” Wenderoth, while giving her quarters to play the games. They were married in 1952. His boss, Ernie Miles, let him borrow his car for the wedding. They settled in Wayne, building a house on Market Street with the help of his in-laws, Yustus and Ann Wenderoth, who also had a home next door. Both houses were later relocated across the street when Route 80 was established. They had two wonderful children, Robert and Susan. They all enjoyed many backyard picnics and barbecues, usually serenaded by the family “band”. Buddy also purchased a boat, named it “Windy”, and had many days of fun with swimming and water skiing at Greenwood Lake, and crabbing at the Jersey Shore.
During their early married years, Buddy worked for Richtex Company doing laminating and embossing. The company became a division of Firestone, where he became a foreman and then Assistant Plant Manager. In 1974, he and his wife Bobbie purchased a house in Seaside Park, NJ, where after retiring from Firestone in 1981, he did commercial crabbing with 100 pots in the bay from 1982-1983. He later built a new home on a lagoon in Forked River, but relocated back to Seaside Park, eventually building another home just a block and a half away from their first home.
To keep “busy” he became a part-time bartender for Gabriel’s Hotel and Restaurant. He further served his community in Wayne by being on the Planning Board from 1972-1979, and Chairman in 1974. He also purchased a motorhome and took many trips.
Buddy and Bobbie eventually sold their house in Wayne and settled permanently in Seaside Park where they spent many years enjoying the beach, their boat, and time relaxing together on their front porch. He stopped working for a short time, but, being a life-long avid golfer, he went to work for the Cedar Creek Golf Course in Berkeley Township 3-4 days a week at 80 years old. He retired from that job in December of 2018 at the age of 92.
Always known for his friendly and helpful demeanor, he had his supply inventory of fix-it’s to help anyone in need. Being an accomplished self-taught builder, carpenter, electrician, plumber, etc. he was one-of-a-kind. And the best cheek pincher ever!
Clarence is predeceased, only three weeks prior, by his loving wife of 71 years, Roberta “Bobbie” Place. He is survived by his son Robert Place, Patricia Place, granddaughter Krysti Place and her partner Jeffrey Palmer, and great-grandson Chase; his daughter Susan Gabriel, son-in-law John, granddaughter Jennifer Denovchik and husband Chris, great-granddaughter Emelia, and great-grandson Chris Jr., granddaughter Laurie Tormollan and husband Adam; sister-in-law Dorothy Mazurkiewicz and husband Ed, nephew Michael Mazurkiewicz and his wife Laura, and their son Eric, nephew Ed Mazurkiewicz and wife Kimmy, and their daughter Emily and son Matthew; and sister Denny Knight and her husband Dave.
He was a remarkable man who led a remarkable life. A loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, friend, and neighbor. Keep moving indeed. And while he will be truly and sorely missed, we will continue to celebrate his incredible life well-lived.
We love you always and forever.
Safe journey home.
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