Arthur Richmond Henry Jr., 85., passed away on February 21, 2023 Beloved husband of Barbara (nee Brefka) Henry. He is survived by children Victoria (Bobby), Arthur III lovingly called Rich (Antoinette), two grandchildren; Evie and Emma Brennan, siblings; Ralph (Renee), Meredith (Holly), and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Born in Woodbury, NJ, “A victim of a happy childhood” (his own words), Art grew up in Margate, NJ and enjoyed boating, duck hunting, offshore sport fishing, and the car culture of the 1950s. He graduated from Atlantic City High School in 1955 and attended Duke University where he achieved a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1960. In college, he was a founding member of the Duke Sports Car Club and enrolled in the ROTC program. Following graduation, he served in the Navy as a Damage Control Officer aboard the USS Thuban and traveled through the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea. His Navy career included involvement in the Bay of Pigs.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he worked as an engineer at Owens Yachts. He continued his career at Arthur R Henry Inc, which his father Arthur Henry Sr. started in 1946. As a prominent figure in the South Jersey construction industry, he created a pile driving division and built foundations and bulkheads throughout the casino boom in Atlantic City. He worked closely with his two brothers until he retired as President of Arthur R Henry Inc in 2000.
He attained his private pilot’s license with instrument rating and flew with his father extensively up and down the east coast, as well as across the country. Interested in all things mechanical, he always had unique cars, boats, planes, and motorcycles.
He met Barbara in 1972 on the Predator, a 50’ Trimaran, where she was the boat keeper. They adventured together with friends throughout the Caribbean and east coast. They raced sailboats offshore at the Ocean City Yacht Club and married in 1976. Art enjoyed traveling with his family. Trips included tours of Australia, New Zealand, France, England; travels on their 27’ Fountain up the Hudson to Lake Champlain, through the Chesapeake to Washington DC, the 1000 Islands, the Finger Lakes; sailing in the Virgin Islands, and many ski trips. He was a dedicated father and supported his children in all their pursuits.
In his retirement, Art and Barbara lived in the Florida everglades where he enjoyed boating, fishing, and model boats. They continued to adventure, traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, through the Mediterranean on a Weekly Standard cruise, road tripping along the Lewis and Clark trail, Yellowstone, the Natchez Trace, amongst countless others. In late retirement, he moved back to NJ to be in the company of close friends and family. He filled his final days with trips down to the Lobster House seafood market with his wife, or any other excuse to drive his C8 Corvette.
An intimate celebration of life will be scheduled for a later date.
Those desiring to make a contribution please donate to The Renee Parker Monihan Foundation (www.reneemonihanfoundation.org or 220 Crescent Rd, Ocean City, NJ 08226) or another charity close to your heart.
