Michael R. “Bob” Futter
MIDDLETOWN - Michael R. “Bob” Futter, 95, of Middletown, passed away peacefully at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank on Monday, December 4, 2023. He was born on March 14, 1928, in Newark, where he spent his younger years. He met and later married the love of his life, Rachel Fasano on August 4, 1957. Shortly after their wedding, they moved to Irvington and in 1967 they settled in Cliffwood Beach, where they remained until moving a short time ago to Middletown. “Bob” retired from Western Electric, in Union, where he worked for many years in the phone assembly department. Some of Bob’s hobbies that he enjoyed spending time doing were woodworking, listening to music and playing the organ. He also liked spending time at the Cullen Seniors in Hazlet.
“Bob” was predeceased by his beloved parents, Philip and Lena (Geremia) Futter and a brother-in-law, Harold Rogall. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Rachel Fasano Futter, his caring son, Philip Futter and his wife Victoria of Las Vegas, NV, his dear sister, Sharon Rogall of Arlington, VA, and his cherished nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and much extended family. “Bob” was a dedicated son, husband, father, brother, and uncle. He will be forever missed, never forgotten, and always loved.
Family and friends may visit on Thursday, December 7, from 3 to 7 PM and on Friday, December 8, from 10 AM until the time of his funeral service at 10:30 AM, at Shore Point Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 3269 State Hwy/ Rt 35 N, Hazlet. In respect of Michael’s wishes, he will be privately cremated. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. For more information, directions, or to leave condolences for the family please visit www.shorepointfh.com.
say there are no areas where they feel safe, and many fear that if they leave their homes they will never be allowed to return.
Aerial bombardment and the ground offensive have already driven three-fourths of the territory’s 2.3 million people from their homes – and new orders to evacuate areas around Khan Younis are squeezing people into ever smaller areas of the tiny coastal strip.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday that it was too soon to pass judgment on Israeli operations, but that it was unusual for a modern military to identify precise areas of expected ground maneuvers and ask people to move out, as Israel has done in Khan Younis.
“These are the kinds of steps that we have asked them to undertake,” he said.
At the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, ambulances brought dozens of wounded people in, including a young boy whose hand had been blown off.
“What’s happening here is unimaginable,” said Hamza al-Bursh, who lives in the neighborhood of Maan, one of several in and around the city where Israel has ordered civilians to leave. “They strike indiscriminately.”
The United States, Qatar and Egypt, which mediated the weeklong cease-fire that ended last week, say they are working on a longer truce even though Israel called its negotiators home over the weekend and Qatar’s ruler accused Israel of genocide. Hamas said talks on releasing more of the scores of hostages must be tied to a permanent cease-fire.
In the U.S., more than $1 million has been raised for the recovery of Hisham Awartani, one of the three college students of Palestinian descent who were shot in Vermont last month. Awartani was left paralyzed from the chest down after a bullet lodged in his spine, his family said.
The 20-year-old student at Brown University was walking with his childhood friends near the University of Vermont campus in Burlington on Nov. 25 when “all three were shot in an unprovoked attack,” Awartani’s family said on a GoFundMe page. All three were seriously injured.
The shooting came amid a surge of hate crimes across the United States, including increased threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities, since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. While officials in Burlington, Vermont, have yet to label the shooting a hate crime, the attack drew widespread condemnation from authorities and advocacy groups.
Meanwhile, the White House joined Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shaprio and others Monday in condemning the actions of pro-Palestinian demonstrators who targeted a Jewish-owned restaurant Sunday night in Philadelphia.
A large crowd of protesters gathered Sunday night outside the Jewish falafel restaurant Goldie’s, one of several restaurants owned by Philadelphia-based Israeli chef Michael Solomonov. Video on social media showed the crowd chanting: “Goldie, Goldie, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide.”
“It is antisemitic and completely unjustifiable to target restaurants that serve Israeli food over disagreements with Israeli policy, as Governor Shapiro has underlined,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement.
Contributing: Associated Press