WMUA commissioner's death leaves council to fill open seat
BY MARK ROSMAN
Staff Writer

MARLBORO - The Township Council will be charged with naming a new Marlboro representative to the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority (WMUA) following the death of Ralph Zulferino Jr.

Zulferino, 48, died on June 8 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. He was a Marlboro resident for 10 years and was presently serving as one of the township's two commissioners on the WMUA.

The WMUA, based in Manalapan, provides sewer service to customers in Manalapan, Marlboro, Englishtown and Freehold Township. There are four commissioners who oversee the operation of the authority. Two commissioners are appointed by the Marlboro Township Council and two commissioners are appointed by the Manalapan Township Committee.

The commissioners from Manalapan are Eric Abraham and Steve Toubin; the remaining commissioner from Marlboro is Jeff Hymowitz.

According to the Marlboro township clerk's office, there is no time limit for the council to name a replacement for Zulferino.

Mayor Robert Kleinberg told the News Transcript that Zulferino had battled a form of cancer for two years. The mayor said he met Zulferino years ago on the baseball diamond when their children were playing in the Marlboro Little League.

"Ralph was a good neighbor, a good friend, and he gave wonderful service to his community. He attended the WMUA meetings until the end because he knew how important community service was. He will be missed. He believed in the cause of stopping corruption and over-

development. In his position on the WMUA he worked on behalf of Marlboro residents," Kleinberg said.

Zulferino was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and lived there and in Staten Island, N.Y., before moving to Marlboro. He was a trader on Wall Street in New York City for most of his life. He was a member of the Marlboro Republican Club and a communicant of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church, Marlboro.

Zulferino is survived by his wife, Catherine; three children, Ralph, Christina and Michael, all of Marlboro; his parents, Mary and Ralph Zulferino of Brooklyn; two brothers, Frank Zulferino and Henry Zulferino, of Staten Island; and a sister, Mary Rose Giliberti of Brooklyn.

A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Gabriel's Main Church, followed by entombment at St. Gabriel's Mausoleum, both of Marlboro. Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.