Obituary for Theophilo A. "Toddy" Correia
Theophilo A. “Toddy” Correia, 100, passed away on March 15, 2023 at Willow Springs Rehabilitation and Health Center in Brick Township, NJ. Toddy was born in New Bedford, MA in April, 1922. While he was a toddler and following the death of his father, his mother took her baby boy and moved to the Portuguese neighborhood of the Ironbound Section of Newark, NJ. While in Newark he attended the Lafayette Street School. They remained in Newark until he was 12 at which time his mother and step-father moved the family to Portugal. Both had both emigrated from Portugal to the U.S.A. in the early 1900’s. It was in Portugal where Toddy completed his formal education and learned the auto mechanics trade.
In 1942, following the entry of the United States into WWII, he returned to the U.S.A. to serve Uncle Sam by joining the U.S. Army. He attained the rank of sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1946. One of the first things he did after being discharged was to go south to marry the love of his life, Becky. The two had met during the war while he was stationed at Kennedy General Army Hospital in Memphis, TN and she was a student nurse. Toddy and Becky returned to New Jersey and settled in Newark. They remained there until 1953 when the company he was working for, American Mica, moved their operation from Newark to Manasquan. They purchased a house in Manasquan in 1954 and made it a home for their two children, Odette and Elliott. He remained in that house until the time of his passing.
Toddy was a proud member of “The Greatest Generation”. A true patriot, he had a deep love for the U.S.A. He also loved Manasquan and was proud to be a 70-year resident of the town. He had an amazing memory for local events, who used to be who and what used to be what in town. He loved learning Manasquan history from those who were here before him. He enjoyed reminiscing about and passing on local history to the younger generations. Toddy was very active with Manasquan Boy Scout Troop 59 in the 60’s and 70’s as an assistant scoutmaster. He spent countless nights camping with the Scouts both locally and far away. He twice was an expedition leader to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM. He was also a troop leader for the Monmouth Council B.S.A. contingent to the National Jamboree at Farragut State Park in Idaho in 1969.
Toddy was a true jack-of-all-trades and was a master of several. Anything mechanical intrigued him and he enjoyed the challenge of fixing and repairing whatever was broken rather than paying to have it done. A machinist by trade he was last employed as a first-class machinist by Frequency Engineering Laboratories in Farmingdale, NJ until his retirement in 1987. He enjoyed working in his home machine shop, be it puttering around or building his fancy birdhouses which he gifted to and are cherished by many.
Toddy was a fixture at the Manasquan Inlet for many years. The gazebo was one of his favorite places to be. His days would begin, and sometimes end, with bike rides or drives to the inlet to enjoy the beauty of the beach and ocean. It was where he and his circle of friends would drink coffee, laugh and solve the problems of the world. He considered the decades of friends made at the inlet among his best. Nothing would interrupt their daily routine of standing to salute the flag as it was being raised with the anthem playing across the inlet at the Coast Guard Station.
Toddy was predeceased by his wife Becky in 1999. He was also predeceased by his mother, Elvira, his father, Teofilo, and his stepfather Francisco Marques. Additionally, he was predeceased by his grandson, U.S. Marine Sergeant Richard A. Cummings in 2012. Toddy is survived by his daughter Odette Cummings (Richard) as well as his son Elliott (Mary Beth). He is survived by four grandchildren, Stefanie (Cummings) Green (Aaron), Amy (Cummings) Bonney (James), Todd Correia (Kathleen) and Mark Correia with his fiancée Kerri. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Rebecca Green, Jack Green and Henry Correia.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial visitation on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 from 4 pm- 7 pm with a service beginning at 6 pm at Orender Family Home for Funerals, 2643 Old Bridge Road, Manasquan, NJ 08736. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Manasquan First Aid, 65 Broad Street, Manasquan, NJ 08736.To send condolences to the family please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net.
In 1942, following the entry of the United States into WWII, he returned to the U.S.A. to serve Uncle Sam by joining the U.S. Army. He attained the rank of sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1946. One of the first things he did after being discharged was to go south to marry the love of his life, Becky. The two had met during the war while he was stationed at Kennedy General Army Hospital in Memphis, TN and she was a student nurse. Toddy and Becky returned to New Jersey and settled in Newark. They remained there until 1953 when the company he was working for, American Mica, moved their operation from Newark to Manasquan. They purchased a house in Manasquan in 1954 and made it a home for their two children, Odette and Elliott. He remained in that house until the time of his passing.
Toddy was a proud member of “The Greatest Generation”. A true patriot, he had a deep love for the U.S.A. He also loved Manasquan and was proud to be a 70-year resident of the town. He had an amazing memory for local events, who used to be who and what used to be what in town. He loved learning Manasquan history from those who were here before him. He enjoyed reminiscing about and passing on local history to the younger generations. Toddy was very active with Manasquan Boy Scout Troop 59 in the 60’s and 70’s as an assistant scoutmaster. He spent countless nights camping with the Scouts both locally and far away. He twice was an expedition leader to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM. He was also a troop leader for the Monmouth Council B.S.A. contingent to the National Jamboree at Farragut State Park in Idaho in 1969.
Toddy was a true jack-of-all-trades and was a master of several. Anything mechanical intrigued him and he enjoyed the challenge of fixing and repairing whatever was broken rather than paying to have it done. A machinist by trade he was last employed as a first-class machinist by Frequency Engineering Laboratories in Farmingdale, NJ until his retirement in 1987. He enjoyed working in his home machine shop, be it puttering around or building his fancy birdhouses which he gifted to and are cherished by many.
Toddy was a fixture at the Manasquan Inlet for many years. The gazebo was one of his favorite places to be. His days would begin, and sometimes end, with bike rides or drives to the inlet to enjoy the beauty of the beach and ocean. It was where he and his circle of friends would drink coffee, laugh and solve the problems of the world. He considered the decades of friends made at the inlet among his best. Nothing would interrupt their daily routine of standing to salute the flag as it was being raised with the anthem playing across the inlet at the Coast Guard Station.
Toddy was predeceased by his wife Becky in 1999. He was also predeceased by his mother, Elvira, his father, Teofilo, and his stepfather Francisco Marques. Additionally, he was predeceased by his grandson, U.S. Marine Sergeant Richard A. Cummings in 2012. Toddy is survived by his daughter Odette Cummings (Richard) as well as his son Elliott (Mary Beth). He is survived by four grandchildren, Stefanie (Cummings) Green (Aaron), Amy (Cummings) Bonney (James), Todd Correia (Kathleen) and Mark Correia with his fiancée Kerri. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Rebecca Green, Jack Green and Henry Correia.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial visitation on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 from 4 pm- 7 pm with a service beginning at 6 pm at Orender Family Home for Funerals, 2643 Old Bridge Road, Manasquan, NJ 08736. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Manasquan First Aid, 65 Broad Street, Manasquan, NJ 08736.To send condolences to the family please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net.