Richard
Ottmar
"Dick"
Venino
Richard Ottmar Venino (“Dick”), 98, died Wednesday, May 11 at his home in Sea Girt.
Dick was born on December 1, 1923 to Ottmar L. Venino and Marie Treadwell Venino. The family lived in East Orange where Dick attended Washington Elementary School, Vernon Davey Junior High School and East Orange High School. During his enrollment at Rutgers University, Dick joined the Navy V-12 Officer Training Program which included studies at The Wharton School as well as at Notre Dame University. Upon completion of his studies, Dick was commissioned as an Ensign receiving additional training in Miami before being deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations where he served in the Buckner Bay area of the Battle of Okinawa. After returning to the United States, he was posted to Naval Operations at Pier 92 in New York and ultimately discharged with the rank of Lieutenant j.g.
Subsequent to his discharge from the Navy, Dick completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers and, upon graduation with a B.A. degree, enrolled in Rutgers University Law School. While a student, Dick successfully passed the New Jersey Bar exam and was admitted to practice before graduation. Dick served as the assistant editor of the Rutgers Law Review and graduated with high honors in 1950.
After graduating from law school, Dick became an associate attorney with the firm of Pillsbury, Carton & Sorensen in Atlantic Highlands before embarking on a solo practice in Sea Girt in 1955. Besides New Jersey, Dick was also admitted to practice in Florida, New York, the U.S. District Court for New Jersey, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the U. S. Supreme Court.
In 1951, Dick joined the Sea Girt Fire Company and served as its Chief as well as its President and, until his death, was its longest living member. The son of a 32nd degree Mason, in 1956 he became a member of Wall Lodge No. 73 (now Ocean Lodge No. 89) Free and Accepted Masons. In 1967, in commemoration of the Borough’s 50th anniversary, he wrote the “History of Sea Girt” in honor of the community of which he was so proud.
Dick, who met Sigrid “Honey” Gilbertson on Jenkinson’s boardwalk, married her in 1944 and they had three children: Richard O. Venino, Jr., Suzanne Venino and Mark L. Venino. Dick was predeceased by his daughter, Suzanne, in 2013 and by his wife, Honey, in 2018. He leaves surviving: his son, Richard O. Venino, Jr. (Geraldine), Sea Girt: son, Mark L. Venino, Manasquan; grandson, Richard O. Venino, III (Lisa) and their children, Elaine “Lainey” and Lauren, Tega Cay, SC; grandson, David B. Venino (Carolina) and their children, Julia and Kristina, Sea Girt; as well as his sister, Dorothy (“Dotty”) V. Symonds, of Glen Cove, NY.
Funeral arrangements are being conducted by the O’Brien Funeral Home in Wall Township. A viewing will be held on Tuesday, May 24th from 4 to 7 pm. A private interment at Greenwood Cemetery in Brielle will be held the following day. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sea Girt Fire Company No. 1, P.O. Box 296, Sea Girt, NJ 08750.
To send condolences please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com.