The Port Authority cop who died in a crash early Tuesday loved the bagpipes, skiing, animals, hiking and life.
Eamonn Mautone during Port Authority Police Academy (Joshua Maarveld) EAST BRUNSWICK -- When Eamonn Mautone and his two brothers were small, their mother put bagpipes in their hands, partly to "keep them out of trouble" and partly to remind them of their Irish heritage, according to their aunt, Kathleen.
Eamonn, 25, the oldest of the three, would carry his love of bagpipes into adulthood, becoming a member of the Ocean County Emerald Society.
He died in a single-vehicle crash on the New Jersey Turnpike in East Brunswick early Tuesday morning.
"They were joined at the hip," Kathleen, their mother's sister, said of the brothers, who included Sean and Brendan. "They were so close."
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The three grew up in Jackson Township where Eamonn, a Port Authority police officer, was living with his parents, Edmond and Bridget, at the time of the accident.
"He was saving up money to buy a house," his aunt said.
Kathleen remembered her nephew as "the sweetest, nicest kid you'd ever know."
"He was a very nice, caring person," she said. "Everyone loved him."
Eamonn graduated from Kean University with a bachelor's degree in history. While he was in college, he decided to become a member of law enforcement.
He joined the Port Authority Police Department and was sworn in August 2014 as part of the Port Authority Academy's largest ever graduating class.
Mautone was assigned to the World Trade Center command, according to Port Authority police.
"He loved being a Port Authority police officer and he especially loved being stationed at the Freedom Tower," his aunt said. "They lowered the flag at the Freedom Tower to half staff for him today (Wednesday)."
She said her nephew loved his girlfriend of five years, Amanda. He also loved nature, animals, "especially his dog, Clancy," to ski, hike and loved sailing.
"He loved to go up to New Hampshire where he go into the mountains--go skiing and hiking," Kathleen said.
She said his death has left the family in a state of shock.
"He was only 25," the aunt said. "We're all a mess."
State Police said the accident occurred in the southbound truck lanes at about 3:20 a.m. when Mautone, who was off duty at the time, lost control of his car and crashed into the left guardrail.
No other cars were involved in the crash.
Police believe the rainy conditions overnight may have played a role in the accident.
A wake will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Timothy Ryan Debow Chapel in Jackson. Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Catharine Church in Spring Lake, followed by burial at St. Anne Cemetery in Wall.
You will Be Missed Eamonn
Posted by Ocean County Emerald Society pipes & drums on Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
