Obituary of Lester William Jargowsky

Lester William Jargowsky, 78, of Little Egg Harbor passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at the Lyons Veterans Home in Bernards Township.  

Born and raised in Vineland, Lester earned his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University, where he participated in ROTC and the Rutgers Crew Team, setting the foundation for a life defined by service and dedication.

Lester proudly served his country in the United States Army as a First Lieutenant in the Signal Corps from 1969 to 1971, including service in Vietnam. For his bravery and commitment, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. He continued his military service in the reserves until 1975. Following his time in uniform, Lester furthered his education, earning a Master of Public Health from Tulane University.

He made his home in Millstone Township, where he built a long and impactful career as Director of the Monmouth County Health Department, serving the community for more than 25 years before retiring in 2007. Lester approached his work with integrity and a deep commitment to public health, working closely with communities, healthcare providers, and government partners to strengthen the infrastructure needed to coordinate responses to public health emergencies. He also played a key role in monitoring environmental issues and enforcing regulations that protect public health.

Among his many professional contributions, Lester served as Co-Chair of the WPNSTA Earle Restoration Advisory Board, was involved with the Manasquan River Watershed Association, and contributed to efforts surrounding the Burnt Fly Bog Superfund site. He also participated in emergency preparedness initiatives, including the September 11th emergency response via Operation Boatlift, as well as facilitating TOPOFF 3, a national-level exercise designed to strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent and respond to large-scale terrorist incidents. 

Outside of his professional life, Lester was the kind of man who truly did it all. A talented woodworker who found great satisfaction in crafting furniture by hand, he was just as capable of engineering a public health response as he was at fixing a broken engine or coaxing the greenest grass in the neighborhood. As a master storyteller, he had a gift for capturing a room, leaving his family and friends thoroughly entertained by his many adventures. Lester also found peace in the outdoors and the music of Donna Summer, Meat Loaf, and Alabama. An avid fisherman and skilled hunter, he embraced his time in nature, whether he was casting a line or pursuing game with his bow or rifle.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 36 years, Lydia Jargowsky, and their daughter Tanya Generoso; his daughters Patricia Avery and Katie Shaw from a previous marriage; his cherished grandchildren, Mia Generoso, Sophia Generoso, Carlyn Frye, Bailey Chase, Avery Frye, Addison Stewart; 3 great-grandchildren; his brother, Dale Jargowsky; his sister, Jill Baker; as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. He is now reunited with his parents, William and Betty Jargowsky; his brother, William “Billy” Jargowsky, Jr.; and his beloved pets.

A visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 10:00 AM Funeral Service at the funeral home on Friday, May 8, 2026.  Interment will follow in Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle NJ Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province Line Road, Arneytown. For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, Post Office Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH  45250-0301.

For information, directions, or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.