HOWELL- Bob Walsh, who served as a Howell mayor and councilman for more than a decade, has died at the age of 61 after battling brain cancer.
Walsh died at home on Jan. 23, according to information provided by the Clayton and McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township.
Walsh was born in Jersey City and had lived in Monmouth County since 1965. He graduated from Manalapan High School in 1976 and later settled in Howell where he lived with his family for more than 25 years.
In November 2005, he won an election to complete an unexpired term on the Howell Township Council and began his public service. In November 2006, Walsh ran for council as an independent candidate and won a full term.
In November 2008, Walsh was elected mayor and served from January 2009 through December 2012. He returned to a position as a councilman in 2013 and served through 2018.
Walsh battled cancer for several years. On May 9, 2019, he visited the municipal building on Route 9 as Howell officials named a driveway in front of the building Robert F. Walsh Way.
Walsh thanked officials for the honor and said, “I am very happy to have lived in Howell all these years; to serve (in government) was just a little icing on the cake. I found where I wanted to live years ago … I told my wife that night that I found a place we would like to have a good time raising our family. About a week later I bought the property. I have been in Howell ever since and if I have it my way I will never leave.”
Following the announcement of Walsh’s passing, Monmouth County Republican Chairman Shaun Golden posted a message online in which he said, “The Monmouth County Republican Committee leadership team, our municipal chairs and county committee members, along with the entire Monmouth GOP family and the Howell community mourn the passing of Robert ‘Bobby’ Walsh.
“As a former mayor and councilman in Howell, Bobby Walsh was a tenacious fighter and a force committed to serving the residents of Howell. Bobby was always a presence in the room and larger than life; he was a well-respected leader in the GOP family and the community.
“More importantly for those who knew him, he was caring and a loving family man. Family always came first, Bobby cared deeply for his family; his wife, Michelle, his son, Sean, and his daughters, Shannon and Nicole.
“Bobby fought courageously against his battle with illness to be able to walk his daughter Shannon down the aisle and to welcome his daughter Nicole’s newborn baby prior to his passing.
“Bobby Walsh will be sorely missed and certainly not forgotten. Our deepest heartfelt condolences go out to the Walsh family and we would like to thank them for sharing him with our GOP community,” Golden wrote.
In a post on social media, Howell Councilman Thomas Russo wrote, “Remembering and honoring the life of my friend, running mate and former mayor/councilman Bobby Walsh, a big man with an even bigger heart. A dedicated public servant and family man.
“An advocate who told you like it was. A fighter. A friend. A true original in every sense of the word. Thank you for everything, Bobby. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Please continue to keep the Walsh family in your thoughts and prayers,” Russo wrote.
Walsh was a member of the Eagle Oaks Country Club, Howell. He supported the Howell Police Athletic League, the Optimist Club, Autism NJ, Brennan Stands Alone Foundation, and other charitable organizations, according to his obituary.
Walsh was predeceased by his mother, Sandra Lovenguth; and his niece, Veronica Parlacoski.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Michelle Walsh; his children, Nicole Parikh and her husband, Parth, of Collingswood, Shannon Cohen and her husband, William, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Sean Walsh of Collingswood; a grandson, Dev Parikh; siblings, Joseph Walsh and his wife, Anne, of Spring Lake, James Walsh and his wife, Lynn, of Freehold Township, and Fern Parlacoski of Manalapan; stepfather, Ronald Lovenguth of Manalapan; and many in-laws, nieces and nephews, and his faithful canine companion, Bodie.
