We all make our mark on this world, be it for good, bad or somewhere in between.
If we lead our lives guided by faith, enriched by love and defined by honor, we might leave a legacy that comes close to the one left by John Santarsiero.
Mr. Santarsiero was known to us in the Diocese’s Communications Office for a number of reasons, most importantly because he was the father of one of our own … Marianne Hartman, the office’s associate director and director of Multimedia Production. Several of us had the good fortune of meeting him at various diocesan events. And because of his support for her work in video production and programming for the Diocese, we felt like we knew him.
But we at The Monitor also knew Mr. Santarsiero because he was one of our longest-standing and most loyal readers. Marianne remembers vividly that The Monitor newspaper was always in their home and was even consulted to see if a movie that she wanted to see in the theaters was recommended by Catholic “Morality in Media” writers. Mr. Santarsiero would tell his daughter the writers he enjoyed reading, and sometimes mentioned “Rayanne Bennett sent me an email,” referring to the digital media alerts we send out.
A closeness to his faith was a pillar of his life, and so he truly appreciated knowing that his daughter’s work in video made it possible for him to see Bishop O’Connell’s Masses via livestream – and appreciate what an engaging homilist he is. For many years, Marianne and her team produced Realfaith TV, a faith-based show for teens. Mr. Santarsiero and his wife Irene would come back to New Jersey from their Florida home so that they could babysit Marianne’s two young sons during the long, challenging summer work days in production.
When they were physically able, Mr. and Mrs. Santarsiero enjoyed attending the Bishop’s Anniversary Masses, and were even interviewed for a video produced on the event. He attended Mass every Sunday until recent years when health troubles prevented it. It was just part of who he was.
Mr. Santarsiero had reached the wonderfully, blessed age of 101, and celebrated 76 years of loving marriage to Mrs. Santarsiero before he closed his eyes on this world for the last time on March 24 in his Forked River home. His passing leaves a giant hole in the lives of all who love him. But his legacy as a husband, a father and grandfather, a World War II veteran and a man of deep faith stands for all to see and be inspired by.
Mr. Santarsiero, who may well have been our longest and oldest subscriber, was deeply appreciated and will not be forgotten. May he rest in God’s peace.
On behalf of our entire team here at The Monitor and the Office of Communications and Media, I wish all of our readers a beautiful and blessed Holy Week and Easter.