Tough On Ice, Kind Leader Off It: Toms River Mourns Hockey Player – Toms River, NJ Patch

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Aidan Inteso was starting his college career, looking to a future of environmental science and perhaps one day working for the U.S. National Park System.

But just weeks after setting off on the new adventure at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa., Inteso’s family and friends are mourning the 18-year-old’s death. He died Sunday of complications related to undiagnosed cardiomegaly at Einstein Medical Center, East Norriton, Pa., according to his obituary on the Quinn-Hopping Home for Funerals website.

Visitation has been set for 1 p.m. Sunday, with a memorial service at 4:30 p.m., at Huddy Park in downtown Toms River to honor the 2020 graduate of Toms River High School East, where Inteso was the captain of the ice hockey team, played lacrosse and was a stellar student.

Inteso was a first-year student and an Abele Scholar at Ursinus, and a recipient of the Gateway Academic Scholarship. He had a passion for data science and analytics and was exploring business and environmental studies at Ursinus, his obituary said.

He was a four-year varsity defenseman for the combined Toms River South-East hockey team and was assistant captain as a junior and captain as a senior. He was the team’s 2018-19 Warrior Award recipient and the 2019-20 Student Athlete award recipient. He played travel hockey with the Toms River Blackhawks for more than 10 seasons.

“Always a leader, Aidan wore the ‘C’ for many years, including his final seasons as a Midget Major,” his obituary said.

“On the ice, there was nobody tougher,” a post on the Toms River South-East hockey team’s Facebook page said. “Off the ice, Aidan was a kind and caring person, earning him the admiration of all who knew him.”

The Toms River hockey community was encouraging everyone to put hockey sticks on their front porch to honor Inteso’s memory with the hashtag #sticksoutforaidan. His parents have started a GoFundme to fund a scholarship “to honor his life and commitment to education,” they wrote.

His hockey prowess wasn’t the only memory people have of him, however. Friends commenting publicly on Facebook and on the funeral home’s website remembered his smile and his kindness.

“Aidan was a great person and had an amazing personality. One of the nicest people you could ever meet,” wrote Danielle Irey. “Over the course of the 3 years I have been involved with TRSE Ice Hockey he was nothing but a great person, always there for his teammates and others who need him.”

“Aidan was a friend of mine, as to many others,” a post on the TRE Class of 2021 Facebook page said. “He was a son, an older brother, a student, a neighbor, and just a good person in this world.”

“Spread kindness in this world. Don’t be hateful and spread negativity in the world. Love one another. We will all miss you Aidan, fly high up there, buddy,” the post said.

“You were the sweetest guy I have ever met and the bestest friend and prom date any girl can ask for,” Hailey Gorman wrote in a public Facebook post. “I hope heaven has a million ice rinks, a bunch of race cars, and all the bodies of water you can imagine to fish in.”

“You always made me feel so much better when I was having a bad day,” Kailee Maguire wrote on the funeral home’s memory page. “I always smiled when I was around you because it was just so contagious. I wish you were still here to give me one more big hug or smile, but I know you are watching over all of us.”

“You always knew what to say when I needed help,” Lauren Rumbolo wrote. “I will never forget your smile, your laugh, and the way the room lit up when you walked in.”

In addition to hockey, Inteso loved the outdoors, surf fishing at Island Beach State Park, hunting, canoeing and hiking at his stepmother’s family cabin in Pennsylvania, and playing disc golf. He loved watching Formula 1 Racing, UFC fights, and the New York Giants, New Jersey Devils and the New York Yankees. He had recently bought a 1995 Ford Mustang and loved to work on cars with his father and his uncle.

“Aidan enjoyed making his own ‘A-Bomb’ brand hot sauce … hosting endless sleepovers at his mom’s house with his ‘crew,’ … and he watched countless sunsets with his mom in Island Heights,” his obituary said.

He also helped out at the family business, Cherry Lane Child Care, and over the summer interned with Morgan Engineering in Island Heights, where he learned and performed civil engineering and surveying duties.

“Most importantly, Aidan loved spending time with his family and all of his friends, especially his younger brother Nathan, who considered Aidan his best friend and mentor,” his obituary said. “Aidan loved not only playing Legos, Nerf guns, Pokemon cards, and so on with Nathan, but passing along his collections to him. Despite their almost 10-year age difference, they shared never-ending discussions about rockets, space, airplanes, supercars, F1 racing, military history, etc, etc.”

His family has requested donations to the newly formed Aidan M. Inteso Memorial Scholarship instead of flowers or fruit baskets. Donations can be made through the GoFundme or by check at the memorial service on Sunday.

Aidan always helped out at the family business, Cherry Lane Child Care, and this past summer Aidan interned with Morgan Engineering in Island Heights. There he learned and performed civil engineering and surveying duties.

He is survived by his mother Cheri Revoir; his father and stepmother, Michael Inteso and April Shinn-Inteso, and his adoring little brother Nathan; his maternal grandmother Barbara Revoir and paternal grandmother Rosemarie Inteso; his maternal stepgrandparents, Kyaw and Natasha Shinn; aunts and uncles, Carmine and Autumn Inteso, Alicia Cicio, Angela and Michael Santoro, David and Jennifer Revoir, Diana Revoir, and several cousins.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.