Ida’s victims in New Jersey: What we know about them – My Central Jersey

New Jersey residents continue to cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, one of the deadliest storms in the state’s history.

Gov. Phil Murphy confirmed Monday that the Ida death toll remained at 27, although four people remain missing — three in Passaic County and one in Essex County. 

The deaths happened in the following counties, per Murphy:

• Bergen (1)
• Essex (4)
• Hunterdon (6)
• Mercer (2)
• Middlesex (3)
• Passaic (1)
• Somerset (5)
• Union (5)

Here’s what we know so far about the victims. 

North Jersey

Luis Jalil-Solarzario, Clifton resident

Luis Jalil-Solarzario, a 70-year-old Clifton man, was killed in Passaic Sept. 1 after floodwaters engulfed his car. Officials said the car was inundated early Wednesday evening near the underpass at Van Houten and Passaic avenues. 

The car initially got stuck in about two feet of water. First responders were able to rescue Jalil-Solarzario’s 66-year-old wife, Isabel Jalil and their 25-year-old son, Jonathan Jalil. The man’s body was recovered after midnight. 

According to Jalil-Solarzario’s obituary, his memorial service will take place on Sept. 11 from 2-4 p.m. at Funeraria Alvarez in Passaic. 

Aventino Soares, Bloomfield resident

Aventino Soares, a 58-year-old Bloomfield man, was found dead from electrocution on Sept. 2 at 11:30 p.m. on the side of a residence. He had an electrical cord in his hand and across his chest, according to Bloomfield police.

According to his obituary, Soares was born in Vale, Arcos de Valdevez, Portugal and came to the United States in 1986. He resided in North Newark before settling in Bloomfield. Soares worked as a manager at Beyband International of Fairfield since 1989. He was also a founding member of Amigos do Vale USA.

He is survived by his mother, wife of 41 years, three children, three siblings and five grandchildren. Soares’ funeral will be held Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church in Newark.

Patrick Jeffrey, Maplewood resident

Patrick Jeffrey, a 55-year-old Maplewood man, was found dead in the area of 658 Ridgewood Rd. on Sept. 2 at 7:12 a.m., Maplewood police said. They believe he may have been attempting to remove debris from drains in the area and was swept away by floodwaters. 

The man had been reported missing by his wife on Sept. 1 at 9:30 p.m. after he had left his home and had not returned for about an hour. 

According to his obituary, Jeffrey was an executive in the securities field and a flag football coach. He grew up in Tenafly alongside his three siblings and moved to Maplewood in 2006, where he and his wife welcomed their two children. 

His memorial service was Sept. 10 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Short Hills, followed by a a funeral mass there on Sept. 11 at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield.

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Nidhi Rana and Ayush Rana, Passaic

A state Medical Examiner in Newark has identified the two bodies found this week in the Passaic River as 18-year-old Nidhi Rana and 21-year-old Ayush Rana, a pair of friends who went missing from Passaic on Sept. 1 as remnants of Hurricane Ida pummeled the city.

Rescue crews had been searching for the friends, who are unrelated, since last week, when family members found Ayush’s car overturned near a flooding culvert at Brook and Main avenues.

Search crews scoured the river throughout the week. They discovered a female body in the river near Kearny on Sept. 8. A second body was discovered Sept. 9 near the border of Newark and Kearny.

The Medical Examiner identified both bodies as the missing friends sometime around 2:40 p.m. on Sept. 10, Passaic City Mayor Hector Lora said. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office would not confirm the identities as of Friday afternoon.

Last week, family members described the pair as close friends, whose families immigrated from the same town in India.

When the city held an open prom last spring for students who graduated during the pandemic, they were crowned king and queen, Lora said. The two were inseparable, and their families remained close.

Rhana was home the night of the storm after beginning as a freshman at Seton Hall, where she was studying to become a physician’s assistant, her sister Disha said.

Central Jersey

Cheryl Talke, Belle Mead section of Montgomery resident

Cheryl Talke, a 61-year-old Belle Mead resident, died before her vehicle was found submerged in floodwaters at Route 206 and Mountainview Road in Hillsborough at 2:20 a.m. Sept. 2.

According to her obituary, Talke was born in New Providence. She resided in Belle Mead for the past four years, moving from Pittstown. Talke worked at Walgreens in New Providence. 

Talke is survived by four siblings and several nieces and nephews. All services will be private.

Hongxia Li, Bridgewater resident and Ping Fang, Somerville resident

Hongxia Li of Bridgewater and Ping Fang of Somerville drowned Sept. 1 in the rising floodwaters waters of Peter’s Brook at Somerset Corporate Boulevard near the Route 22 intersection, according to the Bridgewater Township Police Department. 

According to police, the victims tried to exit their car after it was disabled by rising waters, and they were swept away by floodwaters. The two were found dead on the morning of Sept. 2 after floodwaters had receded.

Malathu Kanche, Raritan resident

Malathu Kanche of Raritan was found dead in the Middle Brook in Bound Brook on Sept. 3, according to the Bridgewater Township Police Department. She had been missing since she was last seen Sept. 1 by a family member and friend, who were in a car with her when the car was overcome by floodwaters in the area of Route 22, east of the Bridgewater Chevrolet car dealership. 

Suzie Hanna, Bridgewater

Suzie Hanna, 30-year-old Bridgewater resident, died Sept. 2 in Hunterdon County when she was swept away by floodwaters or trapped in her car due to rising floodwaters, according to the Hunterdon County Office of Emergency Management.

According to her obituary, Hanna was born in Plainfield and lived in Bridgewater most of her life. She is survived by her parents and four siblings. Hanna’s memorial service was held Sept. 9 at the the Branchburg Funeral Home in Branchburg, which was followed by a funeral mass Sept. 10 at St. George Orthodox Church in Piscataway. Burial followed at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains.

A GoFundMe for Hanna’s funeral raised $37,318 as of 4 p.m. Sept. 10. “A fun, strong, and resilient woman, Suzie had just celebrated her 30th birthday last weekend,” the page says. 

Dhanush Reddy, Edison resident

Dhanush Reddy, a 31-year-old Edison resident, was killed when he was swept into a 36-inch storm sewer in South Plainfield, Mayor Matthew Anesh said in a statement Sept. 2.

South Plainfield and Piscataway Police, along with members of the Middlesex County Water Rescue Team, arrived on scene and determined that two males were swept into the pipe that travels under Stelton Road from South Plainfield to Piscataway. One victim was saved by emergency personnel downstream in Piscataway. Reddy’s body was found Thursday morning in a wooded area behind 1380 Centennial Ave., Piscataway.

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Matthew Weber, Piscataway

Matthew Weber, a 40-year-old Piscataway resident, was found dead on the evening of Sept. 3 after 6 p.m. in the area of River Road and Baekeland Avenue in Middlesex Borough, said police. Mayor Brian Wahler said Weber was a resident of Birchview Gardens on River Road in Piscataway. 

He had been reported missing out of Piscataway on Sept. 2 and was last seen at about 11 p.m. Sept. 1, police said. The mayor said police suspect Weber was walking from one of the logistics centers where he worked and got caught up in the current as he was walking on the sidewalk on River Road.  

According to his obituary, Weber had recently moved to Piscataway after living at the Jersey Shore for many years. He worked as a mental health specialist at Rutgers  University Behavioral Health Care. Weber enjoyed the outdoors and is survived by his parents and brother. 

A visitation was held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home in Freehold on Sept. 8, followed by a funeral mass on Sept. 9 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine in Freehold. Interment followed in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery in Freehold. 

Shyam Patel, Monroe resident

Shyam Patel, a 25-year-old Monroe resident, died in Hopewell Twp. when floodwaters swept his car, according to Hopewell Twp. police. He was found in the area of Route 518, east of Route 31, on the morning of Sept. 2. He was was not in his vehicle when found, but police say he was the night before. 

According to his obituary, Patel was the “jokester of the family” and loved working out and cars. His funeral was held Sept. 4 at his family home in Monroe. 

Sunanda Upadhye, Iselin section of Woodbridge resident

Sunanda Upadhye, a 56-year-old Iselin section resident, drowned while walking to her home on Gill Lane early morning Sept. 2, Woodbridge police said. She was reported missing by her husband at about 2:28 a.m. when she didn’t come home from work.

Officials learned she tried to walk on the road, which was impassable to vehicles. When officers and the fire department began a search of the flooded area, they found Upadhye deceased near the Cooper Ave. Park in Iselin at 6:44 a.m. 

Daphne Francisca Lopez Del Bono, Ringoes section of East Amwell Twp. resident

Daphne Francisca Lopez Del Bono, 30, a resident of Santiago, Chile who lived in Ringoes, died before her vehicle was found submerged in floodwaters on Amwell Road and North Willow Road in Hillsborough on Sept. 2 at 4:37 a.m.

According to a GoFundMe page created Sept. 2, Lopez Del Bono was an international student. The GoFundMe, which raised $16,416 of its $20,000 goal by 4 p.m. Sept. 10, will be used for funeral costs and to transport her body back to Chile. 

According to her obituary, Lopez Del Bono’s funeral will be held Sept. 12 1-2:30 p.m. at the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Flemington. There will be an additional period of visitation on Sep. 13 from 10:15-10:45 a.m. at the funeral home.

A Mass will also take place on Sept. 13 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth An Seton Church in Three Bridges. Committal prayers will follow the mass at Somerset Hills Memorial Park Crematory in Basking Ridge. Her remains will then be returned to Chile for burial.

Mark Pavol, Ringoes section of East Amwell Township resident

Mark Pavol, a 53-year-old man from the Ringoes section of East Amwell Township, drowned when he was swept away by floodwaters after trying to get out of his car, according to New Jersey State Police. He was driving north on Old York Road when he lost control of his car because of the flooding of the Neshanic River. He was found on Sept. 2 at 4:14 a.m.

According to his obituary, Pavol “died a hero… while saving the lives of others during the tropical storm.” He was born in Somerville, raised in Manville and was a lifelong area resident. He survives his his wife, three daughters, two grandchildren, sisters and nephews. His services will be private. 

“With a heart of gold and a spirit of selflessness, he was consistently doing anything he could for whoever needed him, putting others’ needs in front of his own at every turn,” his obituary says. “This value system provided Mark with a strong foundation, and as a father, he was able to instill these same attributes in his children. His love of family, friends, and appreciation of the simple pleasures in life are remembered and will forever be cherished.” 

Yvonne Mahoney, Raritan Twp. resident

Yvonne Mahoney, a 78-year-old Raritan Twp. resident, died in Hopewell Twp. when floodwaters swamped her vehicle, according to Hopewell Twp. police. Police found her in her car Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. on Pennington-Titusville Road, east of Route 579. Jacobs Creek runs through the area.

Barry Snyder, Upper Black Eddy, Penn. resident

Barry Snyder, a 68-year-old man from Upper Black Eddy, Penn., was found in Milford after his truck became submerged in floodwater in the area of Javes Road and Miller Park Road in Holland Township, according to New Jersey State Police. The truck traveled about 1.8 miles in the Hakihokake Creek before it came to a rest in the area of Carpenter Street in Milford. He was found Sept. 2 at 7:21 a.m.

According to his obituary, Snyder was born in Raritan Twp., grew up in Milford and lived in Washington before moving to Upper Black Eddy, Penn. 35 years ago. He graduated from Delaware Valley Regional High School and worked as a truck driver for J.A. Burns Trucking in Asbury for 20 years. Prior to that, he worked for Rich-Hil Trucking Co. in Flemington and Hunterdon Transformer Co. in Alpha.

“Barry was known for his kind heart and hard work ethic. He was well loved by everyone and was always willing to help anyone,” his obituary reads. “Barry enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson. He also enjoyed sports and coaching wrestling for Palisades Youth Association, at one time. Barry loved spending time at his second home in Myrtle Beach, SC. He often times made the trip on his motorcycle. Most of all, Barry enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandsons. He enjoyed attending all of his grandsons’ sporting events in his free time.” 

Snyder is survived by his daughter, mother, three brothers and two grandchildren. His funeral was held Sept. 8 at at the Johnson-Walton Funeral Home in Holland Township and he was buried at Upper Tinicum Cemetery in Tinicum, Penn. 

Harold Koberlein, Telford, Penn. resident

Harold Koberlein, a 77-year-old man from Telford, Penn., drowned after he was swept away by floodwaters, according to the New Jersey State Police. He was found on an Old York Road property in Raritan Township on Sept. 2 at 2:41 p.m. 

According to his obituary, Koberlein “passed away… after a day spent doing what he loved most, checking in on his family.” He was born in Callicoon, NY and graduated from Narrowsburg High School in Narrowsburg, NY and the Williamsport Technical Institute in Williamsport, Penn. 

Koberlein worked as a service manager for Plasterer Equipment in Telford, Penn. for 12 years until retiring in 2009. Prior to that, he worked at Ingersoll-Rand Company, Montgomeryville, Penn. for more than 25 years. He was also a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the Naval Seabees in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968.

Koberlein’s obituary said that he was a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and enjoyed traveling cross-country in his RV and going to bluegrass music festivals, being that he was a bluegrass music and country music enthusiast. 

Koberlein is survived by his six children, 18 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, partner, two brothers and sister. His celebration of life will be held Sept. 12 1-3 p.m. and Sept. 13 9-11 a.m. at the Franconia Heritage Banquet Hall in Telford. A memorial service will also be held on Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. at the same location. 

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Two additional deaths reported in Hunterdon County

Two additional deaths have been reported in Hunterdon County, according to a release from the Hunterdon County Office of Emergency Management. Both victims died either because they were swept away by floodwaters or they were trapped in their cars by floodwaters. 

They include Preston Moody, a 68-year-old from Drexel Hill, Penn. and Jake Taylor, a 25-year-old from Flemington.

A GoFundMe for Taylor’s funeral and a charity raised $18,875 as of noon Wednesday. “Jake is the most passionate, fun, loving, optimistic man as well as being unapologetically himself at ALL times. He was one of the most precious souls who was from New Jersey and was taken too soon,” the page says. 

Rudy Pacis, Union Twp., Union County resident

Rudy Pacis, an 83-year-old Union Township, Union County resident, drowned after he got out of his car that was stranded in floodwaters in Union Township. He was found just before midnight on Chestnut Street near Overlook Hospital’s Union Campus, where a citizen and workers pulled him out of the water and into the hospital and gave him CPR. Union firefighters and paramedics responded as well, but were unable to save him.

Police said it seems as if he drowned, but the exact cause of death will be left up to the Union County Medical Examiner. 

According to his obituary, a memorial service was held Sept. 9 at at Faith United Church of Christ in Union. 

Four Elizabeth residents found dead in apartment

Four people were found dead after drowning in one apartment at 430 Irvington Ave., Elizabeth within the Oakwood Plaza apartment complex, Elizabeth spokeswoman Kelly Martins said. 

Ida’s victims:Four people found dead in Elizabeth apartments after Ida flooding, official confirms

That included Rosa Espinal, a 72-year-old woman; Jose Torres, her 71-year-old husband; Jose Torres Jr., the couple’s 38-year-old son; and Shakia Garrett, a 33-year-old neighbor. 

Jersey Shore

No storm-related deaths were reported as of Sept. 7. 

South Jersey

No storm-related deaths were reported as of Sept. 7.

Staff Reporter Jenna Intersimone: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com

Nicholas Katzban, Matt Fagan and Kaitlyn Kanzler contributed to this report.