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South Amboy Remembers Hugh Riley Rone and Jesse Flynn

By: Joseph L. Kuchie

SOUTH AMBOY – South Amboy’s city council mourned the loss of two young residents during last Wednesday’s business meeting.

Business Administrator Camille Tooker

Business Administrator Camille Tooker

Hugh Riley Rone, 19, and Jesse Flynn, 22, both tragically passed away in consecutive days. Flynn passed away of a heroin overdose on May 30th, and Rone was involved in a motorcycle accident on the Garden State Parkway on May 31st.

“I can’t imagine what [the families] are going through at this point,” Mayor Fred Henry added. “We have to keep the parents in mind and keep them in our prayers.”

“These two young men passed away under two very different circumstances but both were tragedies,” Business Administrator Camille Tooker added.

Councilman Mickey Gross

Councilman Mickey Gross

Rone, a lifelong resident of South Amboy, graduated from South Amboy High School in 2015 where he played varsity soccer, baseball, and basketball. He worked at The Gundrum Service “Home for Funerals”, his family’s business located in South Amboy, and was a communicant of St. Mary’s R.C. Church.

“It’s no secret I’m quite friendly with the Rone family and this one hurts…It really does,” Council President Mickey Gross said. “Riley was a great kid.”

Flynn graduated from South Amboy High School in 2012 and worked as an installer at his family’s business Petra Overhead Door Co. He leaves behind his eight month old daughter Charlee as well as his mother, father, and brother.

Flynn’s longtime battle with addiction adds to the growing drug problem in New Jersey. The state has witnessed an increasing number of deaths caused by drugs, and the city of South Amboy is committed to coming up with a solution.

“I’d like to go on record as saying as a city I think that we should start to really try to do anything we can,” Tooker said. “I don’t know what the answer is with these heroin deaths but it’s too much. “

“It’s not only us, it’s all over the country,” she added. “I know it seems every decade has their drug of choice…this just seems to be hitting across the board no matter what your age is…We are losing too many good people.”

“About a year ago myself and councilwoman Dato had a meeting about the issue in town here and it’s serious,” President Gross added. “Not just in South Amboy but all over. I am totally committed to do whatever we can do to save one life.”

Donald Applegate and Christine Noble were not in attendance for the business meeting. The next city council meeting will be held on June 15th at 7 p.m.

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