Obituary of Gretchen Crosby VanBenthuysen

Gretchen Crosby VanBenthuysen 1/21/53-3/12/26 Mourned by her loving husband, Geoffrey Larkin and her two children, Crosby Carol Larkin and Conor James Larkin and his wife Lauren and their daughter Autumn, her stepdaughter Cari Larkin and her son Alex as well as sisters in law Judith Larkin and Dr. Carolyn Taylor and her husband Dr. Kenneth Taylor and their son Rory. She is also survived by her nieces Brittany and Allyson and their families as well as many cousins, especially Beverley Foster and her brother Allen and his wife Roberta.

Gretchen was born in Montclair NJ to a career Air Force family. She was raised for a good part of her life in England and Germany and traveled extensively throughout Europe. She was a champion swimmer both in Europe as well as the USA in addition to being an avid cyclist. Returning to the US, she attended over ten schools while her father was posted to different Air Bases. Upon her father's retirement in NJ, she attended and received her BA from Rider College and her Masters from Kean University. While attending Rider, she worked as an intern at the Asbury Park Press, and upon graduation was offered a job as a reporter. During her thirty-eight years at the Press, she was the editor of several sections as well as the Theater Writer. Gretchen also wrote for the Publications Backstage and Variety in New York.

In addition to her print media, she also did articles for WCBS radio and had her own blog Theater Cues which was read internationally. After retiring from the Press, she wrote human interest articles for the Two River Times. Gretchen was an avid reader and never went anywhere without a book. She was a fantastic gardener and had several award-winning blue-ribbon specimens at the Monmouth County Fair. Gretchen always said that she wanted to be a member of the Good Mommy's Club. As it turns out, she was the President. As a theater critic, both of her children saw over 90 Broadway Plays as well as other plays in NJ. Every weekend she would take her son all over NJ practicing his driving. Gretchen had a fantastic dry sense of humor, but never once in 36 years of marriage did she laugh at her husband's hilarious jokes. She was truly the heart and soul of her family and will be truly missed.

She was predeceased by her father CMS James VanBenthuysen and Dorothy Crosby VanBenthuysen his wife, her brother-in-law Blaine Larkin and several dear cousins. Please Kiss your loved ones today and donate to the Alzheimer's Association in her name.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Monday, March 23, 2026 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Interment will be private. For information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com