Martin O'Shea

Martin J. O’Shea, 75, of Stockholm, passed away at his home on Friday, December 11, 2009. After deciding early on that he wanted to become a sports reporter, Mr. O’Shea got his foot in journalism’s door as a teenage classified ad taker and office boy with the Passaic Herald News. After postponing his career for a stint in the Air Force during the Korean War, he worked for several years as an award winning reporter and columnist with various New Jersey newspapers. Mr. O’Shea went on to become an editor for several major dailies, including the New York Herald Tribune and Newsday. His last position was as deputy metropolitan news editor of the New York Times. He lived in Ireland for several years in the 1980s, during which he founded the monthly journal Ireland Digest. Following his return to New Jersey and retirement in 1991, Mr. O’Shea became a passionate advocate for open government and the public’s right to know. In recognition of his volunteer efforts, he was the first citizen recipient of the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government’s Lift Award in 2004. In recent years, Mr. O’Shea won several precedent setting lawsuits that clarified and expanded the state’s Open Public Records Act. Mr. O’Shea has several open record lawsuits still pending in the courts. Mr. O’Shea is predeceased by his brothers: James and Joseph O’Shea. He is survived by his dear wife Carol Ukens (Desbien); his loving children: Denise O’Shea and her husband Joseph Kosior of Oak Ridge; Maureen Powell and her husband Joseph Powell, V.M.D.of Parsippany; Catherine Volonnino and her husband Sal of Mansfield; and Dr. Jeffrey Ukens and his wife Rachel of Denton, MD.; his cherished grandchildren: Michael O’Shea, Robert and Charles Martin Powell, Christopher and Matthew Volonnino and Zachary Ukens. Mr. O’Shea also leaves behind his sisters: Mary Bohny of Bayhead and Catherine Bannon of Clifton; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 from 4pm to 8pm at the Stickle-Soltesz Funeral Home, 187 LaRue Road, Newfoundland, NJ. 07435. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 10 AM at St. John Vianney RC Church, Route 23, Stockholm, NJ. 07460. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Germantown Road, West Milford, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to the Compassionate Care Hospice Foundation, 140 Littleton Road, Suite 200, Parsippany, NJ 07054.

Martin O'Shea

May 3, 1934 - December 11, 2009