By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce was stunned Tues., Sept. 6 to learn of the sudden death of Chamber President Roy Werts.
“The sudden passing of our esteemed President, my dear friend, is heartbreaking,” said Retiring Chamber Director Jacqueline Pappas.
“Roy Werts leaves behind a legacy of passionate leadership, historic success for our organization and a tremendous amount of love for the work he did, the way he did it and the people whose lives he touched. He will be missed and celebrated by many in Asbury Park and beyond.”
Information regarding a memorial service for Roy Werts will be posted on the LOVE Asbury Park Facebook page.
Carrie Turner, General Manager of Real Estate Services for Madison Marquette said, “I was fortunate enough to work closely with Roy as a business owner on the boardwalk, a member of the City’s Parking Advisory Committee, and as a trustee of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce. He was fiercely passionate about Asbury’s growth and contributed his time and energy to help make it what it is today. I am greatly saddened to lose a colleague and a friend.”
Dr. Angelo Chinnici of Asbury Park, who was his doctor, recalled Werts as a kind and generous man who always put others before himself.
“He was dedicated to the Asbury Park community and was instrumental in making the Carousel Awards a huge success,” Chinnici said. “He managed to organize a venue that attracted hundreds of people from all walks of life. He was a vibrant stimulus to the local economy and redevelopment and contributed to the rebirth of Asbury Park.”
Werts owned Posh Den, which was one of the city’s pioneer businesses on the boardwalk when the revitalization of the city began.
