Little Silver Mayor Suzanne Castleman passed away Friday at 76. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
Suzanne Castleman, Little Silver’s mayor and a lifelong resident of the borough, passed away at her home Friday night.
Known widely in town as “Mayor Suzie,” Castleman had been ill since the death of her husband in May, said Linda Goff, a friend of the family.
Her death came less than a week before her 77th birthday.
“She was home and she was with her family” when she passed away, Goff said. “It was a peaceful passing, and what she wanted.”
Castleman was born on August 3, 1934, and spent her whole life in Little Silver, minus her years at Bouve Boston School of Tufts University, where she earned with a B.S. in education, majoring in physical education and health , according to her profile on the borough’s website.
After raising her family, she followed in the footsteps of her father, who once served as the town’s mayor. Castleman served on the borough’s council for 10 years before being elected mayor in 1994.
Earlier this year, she decided to call it a wrap on her lengthy political career, announcing she would not run for another term, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family. Her husband, Donald, died May 24. The two would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in July.
Castleman is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth Castleman-Halpin, and Anne Connell, and four grandchildren, Brook Connell, 20; Erin Connell, 18; Connor Halpin, 14; and Noelle Halpin, 10, according to the borough’s website.
Goff, who also serves on the borough’s shade tree committee, said an obituary for Castleman is scheduled to appear in Wednesday’s Asbury Park Press.
