Sheldon M Wallerstein

Sheldon Wallerstein, a long-time resident of Forked River, New Jersey, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in his home on Sunday, December 19, 2021, the day after celebrating his 90th birthday with cherished friends and family.
Shelly was born on December 17, 1931 in Newark, New Jersey to his parents Solomon Wallerstein and Gussie Cohen. In the early 1900s Shelly’s father and his paternal grandparents emigrated to the United States to escape persecution in Russia during the “Pogroms.” His maternal grandparents emigrated to America from Poland. 
Shelly grew up in Newark while helping his parents run their candy store and luncheonette on Belmont Avenue, where they rented an apartment behind the store. He always said his parents taught him the value of hard work and honesty. 
Shelly graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Seton Hall University, where he was a member of the ROTC and worked for the universit’s broadcast team. In 1955 Shelly was commissioned as a Military Police Officer in 6th Army, 5th Division, and he went on to earn recognition as a US Atomic Veteran. 
After serving active duty in the Army, Shelly worked in the fields of newspaper publishing, retail sales, real estate and SBA loans management, capping off his career as Executive Vice President of The Money Store. 
During his retirement, Shelly earned distinction as Judicial Volunteer of the Year in 2008, for his many years of dedication and service to the Ocean County Superior Court as a Municipal Court Mediator in Toms River, Lacey and Little Egg Harbor.
He also was a proud member of the Mariner’s Masonic Lodge #150 in Barnegat, NJ.
Shelly was known for his warm generosity, loving kindess and witty sense of humor.  He had an encyclopedic memory for history and all things Hollywood. He loved to tell stories and spend time with people, especially his four children and eight grandchildren who he was so incredibly proud of. 
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Loretta Myles Wallerstein; his prior wife and lifelong friend Jeanne Kushinksky; his four loving children Dr. Seth (Lisa) Wallerstein of Ocean NJ, Gail Wallerstein Melichar of Los Angeles CA, Tom (Tisha) Allen of San Antonio TX, and Tammy Allen (Dan Gropper) of New Canaan CT; and 8 grandchildren, Genna (Evan) Garcia, Alex (Camille) Wallerstein, Jackie Melichar, Ashley Allen, Manny Allen, Myles Gropper, Bennett Gropper and Pierce Gropper; as well as many cherished neices and nephews including Daria Wallerstein, Leah Wallerstein, Bonnie Nezlick, Nancy Barker, Jennifer Brand, Todd Myles, and Jonathan Myles.
Shelly was predeceased by his brother Earl Wallerstein and his nephew Steven Wallerstein.
Services and visitation will be held Wednesday, December 22 at 11:00am at Layton’s Home for Funerals, 250 Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ, followed by interment at 2:00pm at Beth Israel Cemetery, 1098 Woodbridge Center Drive, Woodbridge Township, NJ.  
Shiva will be held at the home of Seth and Lisa Wallerstein, 24 Enclave Way Ocean, NJ 07712 on
Wednesday, December 22 from 4 to 9pm, and on Thursday, December 23, from 6 to 9pm. 
In lieu of flowers, Shelly requested donations to the following nonprofit organizations that were dear to his heart: 
Gary Sinise Foundation
https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
https://themmrf.org/
Vennue Foundation
https://www.vennue.org/

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