Ernest Fey

Retired Manahawkin plumber Ernest “Ernie” E. Fey, 66, passed away on Thursday, May 11, 2023.  He died at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia after experiencing cardiac complications following a long awaited double lung transplant surgery.

Ernie was born in Manhattan, NY and grew up in Oradell, NJ where he spent time playing hockey and football and later became a member of the Oradell Fire Department.  He began his professional career working in West New York in his father’s embroidery manufacturing company Ernest E. Fey Inc. before eventually joining the construction and plumbing profession with Ray Eckel Plumbing and Raimondo Construction both located in North Jersey.  In 1992, he moved to Manahawkin and started his plumbing business Ernest E. Fey Plumbing and Heating, which he eventually partnered with his son and became Ernest E. Fey and Son Plumbing and Heating several years before retiring.

His hobbies and interests included fishing, cooking, skiing, playing softball, playing pool and swimming, but most importantly he loved spending time with his family and friends.  Ernie was known for his hard work ethic, for his sense of humor, for always going above and beyond to lend a helping hand, for catching fish, and for being the ultimate grill master.

Ernie is survived by his wife, Gloria Fey; daughter, Daina Barry; son, Jason Fey (wife Jessica Fey); his three grandchildren, Billy Barry, Julia Barry and Sofia Fey; and his sisters Denise Siekmann of Massachusetts (husband Ron Siekmann), and Linda Geran of Barnegat (husband Charles Geran).  He will be greatly missed by his plumbing colleagues from the State League, cousins, nieces, nephews, and by many other family and friends, especially Marie Bartley of Manahawkin, daughters Jessica Bartley and Mariah Bartley, and grandchildren Jaxson St. Pierre and Olivia Rogers.

A Celebration of Life memorial gathering and time of remembrance will be held on Saturday, June 3 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Maxwell-Tobie Funeral Home, 573 Mill Creek Rd. Manahawkin, NJ 08050.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to the “Ernie Fey Scholarship Fund” at the New Jersey State League of Master Plumbers, 64 Olde Noah Hunt Road, Millstone, NJ 08510.  Ernie was a strong advocate for educating through trade school, and this scholarship will go towards supporting aspiring plumbers in his honor.