Stephen A. McLaughlin

The legendary Stephen A. McLaughlin, affectionately known as Stevie Mac, Peach, Daddio and Pop, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2025, at the age of 83 in Neptune, New Jersey.  The last day of his life he was surrounded by his children and his grandchildren, all of whom shared a very special bond with him.

Born on September 24, 1942, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Stephen's journey through life was filled with love, laughter, family, sports, a fair dose of wild escapades, lots of doowop music and dancing and, because in everyone’s life a little rain must fall, also some hardships.  He lived life his way and that included admitting his mistakes and regrets, and picking himself back up after those times when he fell.  The best part of Stephen was how authentically human he was, his zest for life and all of the variety in it, and his giant heart.

Stephen's early years were spent in Jersey City and then Brooklyn, New York and East Orange, NJ.  As he started his family, he settled in Hazlet in 1971, then in Ocean Grove in 1978, and finally made his home in Point Pleasant in 1988, where he would spend the remainder of his years.  His Happy Place was in the sunshine and at the beach and he spent his vacations for the past 23 years in the Outerbanks, North Carolina with his large, loud, fun extended “framily”.

A patriot at heart, Stephen served his country in the United States Army from 1962 to 1965.  He often spoke fondly of those years and was very proud to be a veteran.  Throughout Stephen’s life, he experimented with different careers, but found his perfect fit as a Sales Manager at Coast Honda in Sea Girt, New Jersey where he helped countless friends and family with their cars for decades.

He was predeceased by his parents, Stephen A. McLaughlin and Rose (Leon) Romsloe, and his sisters, Carol Marino and Julienne Romsloe. Stephen's legacy lives on through his loving cherished children: his son Joseph McLaughlin and his wife Michelle of Monroe; his daughters, Heather Puglisi and her husband Joseph of Middletown, Caroline Leonard and her husband Keith of Middletown, and Meghan McLaughlin of Old Bridge; his grandchildren who all adored him:  Dylan McLaughlin, Joseph Puglisi Jr., Aidan McLaughlin, Matthew Leonard, Vincent Puglisi, Michael Leonard, Christopher McLaughlin, Nicholas Leonard, Malaina Kuczynski, and Addison Kuczynski; and his wonderful siblings, Maureen Shanahan and her husband Steve, William McLaughlin and his wife Theresa, Susan Neumann and her husband Dennis, and Patrick McLaughlin.

Stephen was a force to be reckoned with and if you have ever been the beneficiary of one of his life chats, stories and sayings, you will carry them with you forever and will smile at the memories.  His unforgettable presence will be deeply missed, but his strong spirit will continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to know him and he will live on through the hearts of his family and friends.  We all know he wants a line around the block at his services so come celebrate a life fully lived, and all of the highways and byways he traveled down during his 83 wondrous trips around the sun.

Fly High and come see us in our dreams.

Donations in loving memory of Stephen to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be greatly appreciated. To donate, please visit, www.stjude.org.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Friday, December 5, 2025 from 9:15 AM to 10:00 AM at Shore Point Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 3269 State Highway/ Route 35 North, Hazlet, New Jersey. A prayer service will be offered on Thursday, December 4, 2025 during the first visitation session. Interment will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 11:30 AM at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, New Jersey. For more information, directions, or to send condolences, please visit www.shorepointfh.com.

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