Paul J. Lagoda

May 21, 1960-May 21, 2022

Paul J. Lagoda age 62, passed away on May 21, 2022 on his birthday after fishing with his friend Richie Rich and yes, he slaughtered them. He was preceded in death by his mother Florence Baczensk, his father and Helen his grandmother.

Paulie, as he was known by all his friends, lived in Belmar, New Jersey, after moving from Asbury Park as a small child. When he was growing up, Helen his grandmother took great care of him. He went to St. Rose high school in Belmar. and to pay for his tuition, he worked as a school janitor after school. After graduating high school, he got his apartment. Paulie worked as chief of the Ocean Avenue Bridge in Belmar for 30 years. This gave him the opportunity to fish and collect some of the best lures from the bridge. You know his motto, “Free is me.”

When he was not fishing you could find him riding his bike or working his gardens. He might be up clamming in the Navesink River or playing clam-a-claws at Christmas. When it got too hot here, he and Kava would drive up to Alaska. Homer was his spot where he would camp on the Spit, fish for halibut,= and talk with his many friends. Some people thought he lived in a large tackle box.

Paul will be missed by his fishing buddies, townies and dog friends. He will be missed by all of us whose lives he has touched. Paul will be cremated, and his ashes will be spread out to sea. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “Paulie Lump,” a reef to be built in his honor, at P.O. Box 307, Spring Lake, NJ 07762.

Arrangements were by Reilly Bonner Funeral Home, Belmar, New Jersey.