JACKSON – Township officials and residents are mourning the loss of Councilman Scott Sargent, 61, who died unexpectedly on May 23 following surgery.
Sargent, a Navy veteran, was elected to the township council in 2022 on a slate with Mayor Michael Reina and with fellow GOP council running mate Jennifer Kuhn. Prior to being elected to council he had served on the township Board of Education for 10 years and served for several years as the Board’s president.
Twelfth District Assemblyman Alex Sauickie (R-Jackson) remarked that Sargent was “known throughout Jackson for his dedication to serving the residents of the Township, including previously serving on the Board of Education. He will be fondly remembered throughout the Community for his many accomplishments.”
Sargent’s passing was noted by Council President Jennifer Kuhn during Monday’s Memorial Day service. She joined Councilmen Mordechai Burnstein and Giuseppe Palmeri in expressing their thoughts to The Jackson Times about the loss of their colleague.
“I got the call at 5:45 on Friday. I was going to make early sabbath but I pushed it off. I was too distraught I sat in my car for 20 minutes crying. Scott was a mentor and friend,” Burnstein said.
Burnstein added, “he was always there for me and he always lived by the motto that he would do what was right even if people don’t understand it. He used to call me every morning around 7 and come to my house all the time. He was a great man and he represented our town very well.”
Kuhn noted, “he was definitely the first person I met in the political world and he walked me through it. He was a good person and generally cared about Jackson. We want to keep him and his family in our prayers.”
Palmeri also served as BOE President before joining the Council in January of this year. He said that there were many times when Sargent was not feeling well but that didn’t stop him from helping others. “I had the honor of serving with Councilman Scott Sargent on the Board of Education as well as on the council and I would say Scott was a patriot. Scott loved his community and Scott gave his all in service.”
“When I got that call to find out that he passed. I was taken back and was heartbroken by it. I wish him and his family my deepest condolences,” Palmeri added.
There will be a November special election to fill the remaining 13 months of Sargent’s term. The council, all of whom are Republican, must agree on an interim successor. Jackson’s form of government allows for anyone to apply by sending in a letter of interest with their thoughts and experience about the position.
Mayor Michael Reina was out of town and could not be reached for comment in time for this article but he and Sargent were friends.
Sargent previously worked as a senior groundskeeper with the public works department. On council he served as chairman of the education committee among other council committee assignments.
Councilman Scott Sargent is sworn in by Mayor Michael Reina as Township Clerk Mary Moss holds the Bible during the Jackson Township reorganization meeting. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Family member Gabriella Wolfmuller is organizing a fundraiser and noted that “Scott had suffered from several heart conditions that ultimately impacted his ability to live a comfortable lifestyle, forcing him to opt for open heart surgery to repair damage from the last few years.”
“Unfortunately, this surgery was extremely risky and came with many complications. Scott fought this battle in the cardiac ICU for several days before surrendering to his conditions. He passed away peacefully with comfort medications and his family by his side,” she added.
Wolfmuller shared, “this kind of loss is insurmountable for our family to process. The magnitude of this loss has left a hole in our lives and, most importantly, Scott’s wife, Claudia, and their two beautiful children, Andrew and Julia.”
“Everything Scott did for his children and wife was done out of pure love, admiration, and loyalty to his family. As Scott’s ‘honorary daughter’ who has been practically adopted and raised by him and his family, I am organizing this page gofundme.com/f/honoring-scott-sargents-memory asking for financial support during this time,” she added.
Wolfmuller said, “his sudden passing has put this family in a stressful position, and asking for this kind of help is never easy. The Sargent Family needs support in laying Scott to rest in the manner in which he wished for.”
Services will be held at the George S. Hassler Funeral Home, Jackson on Thursday, May 29, 4-8 p.m. Mass will be held on Friday, May 30 at 10 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church in Jackson.
The post Jackson Councilman Scott Sargent Dies appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.