Jesse Long

Jesse was born in Plainfield, NJ in Muhlenberg Hospital on January 28, 1939.  He was one of 8 siblings, and was the second youngest.  His parents were Michael Patrick Long, Sr. and Marie Helen Ayers Long.  The family moved to Middlesex, and Jesse graduated from Bound Brook High School in 1958.  His siblings were Anthony Long of Stirling, Louise Bishop of Whitehouse Station, Betty Gyeski of Middlesex, Rosalie Frazee, Marion Barney of Las Vegas, Michael Long, Jr. of Piscataway, and John (Butch) Long of Canton, GA.   Jesse passed to a greater life on August 3, 2025 after 4 months of hospital and hospice care through the VA system. He will be buried with military honors in Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, PA.  He is survived by only his youngest brother and sister-in-law (Butch and Shirley Long), along with the last of in-laws, Donald Bishop.

He entered military service in the Army in October, 1962, and was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He served in the Military Police, and achieved Marksman (Rifle and Pistol) and Sharpshooter (Carbine) badges. His Honorable Discharge was in October, 1964.

Over the years, he was employed as a Security Guard on the Johnson Estate, and a forklift Operator at Paige Electric and elsewhere.  In his adult civilian life, he has lived in Newark, Trenton, Lambertville, and resided in Frenchtown for over 30 years. 

He enjoyed many family gatherings for holidays, pool parties and picnics.  As an uncle, he enjoyed being around his many, many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.  He spent countless hours at Bingo, and loved horse racing, and watching baseball and football.  His apartment was always filled with photos of his many friends and large extended family.  Until recent years, there was always at least one pet dog in his apartment (Solomon, Sheba, Duke, another Sheba…!)

The family is thankful for the caring and companionship he received from his friends, especially John Gomez and Joseph Savoni, and for the excellent medical care he received through the VA healthcare system over the years, and most recently at East Orange Veterans Hospital, Lyons PACT, and the Community Living Center Promise House Hospice.

He is remembered as an easy-going guy, always with a smile, and he will be missed, but remembered with great fondness for the man he was.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8PM on Monday, August 11, 2025 at the Bridgewater Funeral Home, 707 E. Main St., Bridgewater, NJ 08807, with a funeral service at 7:30PM.

Burial will be held at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, PA.

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