Obituary of Victor S. Gugay

Victor S. Gugay, 78, of Freehold Township passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Victor was born in Munich, Germany. He came to the United States in March 1951 settling in North Brunswick. Victor then lived in Arizona, North Carolina, and Myrtle Beach, SC before returning to New Jersey in 2022.

Victor was in the auto industry for over 40 years, first as a salesman for Sansone Auto Group and then as a finance director for investment classic and collectible cars for Goldem Classics Museum, Route 88. He moved on as a general manager and owner of J.D. Byrider Auto Group. Shifting gears, Victor then went on to own and operate the French Broad Café.

Work did not define, Victor, it was his music, his passion. He was in some great bands over the years, Dual Sonics, The Intruders, Vic and The Viscounts, Backstreet, Thunder Chicken, Candlemass Eve and probably the biggest band was Wham. He toured all over the country, from joints in the woods to the Spectrum. Victor was under the management of Arron and Connie Jelin. He wrote some songs with Franke Previte, from Dirty Dancing and Franke and the Knockouts, "When I Need Love" and "It's Magic". In the 1960's, Victor record, "Keep Walking", "Great Journeys", "Great People", and "Great Music".

Writing music was his first love and singing his second. Building businesses, training people to sell, close, manage and being the best in any profession, Victor did with enthusiasm. He relished in his time turning bad businesses to great ones.

He loved to eat oysters, listen to live music and shoot pool. Victor worshiped the sun either on the beach or near the pool, he savored the warmth on his body.

Victor is survived by his daughter, Savannah Gugay and his sister, Helene Kalkay.

All arrangements are private by Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township. For information or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.