Roberta Lynn Stonehill

Roberta Lynn Stonehill, 79, of Toms River, NJ, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving family, on October 12, 2025. Born in December 1945 to George and Elizabeth Stonehill, Roberta was raised in New York City, along with her brother Robert, living in the Jacob Riis projects on Avenue D, graduating Seward Park High School in 1963.
Roberta married in 1965, living briefly in Asbury Park and Lakewood, then settling in Jackson Township in 1968. She raised three children, Matthew, Deborah, and Michele, whom she was dedicated to full-time. As the children grew and Roberta and her husband separated, she returned to school. She received her Associate of Arts degree, Cum Laude, from Ocean County College in 1980, where she proudly served as commencement speaker for her graduating class. A member of the Phi Theta Kappa International College Honor Society, Roberta also undertook direction of the play “Our Town” in 1980, receiving acclaim for the success of that production.
Roberta soon after earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Georgian Court College, then continued to Rutgers School of Law, Newark, where she earned her Judicial Doctorate degree in 1986. She proudly became certified to practice law in New Jersey and Colorado, as well as the United States District Court District of Colorado and the United States Supreme Court.
During her educational and employment journey, her experiences included clerking in Rutgers Law library, research assistant for two law professors, and serving as a public defender. Roberta enjoyed success as a partner in the law firm Roeber & Stonehill, Lacey Township, NJ, and ultimately managed the practice as her own where she proudly and fiercely represented clients with passion and conviction. Roberta also enjoyed many years of instruction as a professor at Georgian Court College, teaching such courses as Women and the Law for the History and Political Science departments.
In her private life, Roberta gave tirelessly of herself. An active congregant of Temple Beth Shalom, she supported the congregation as a member of their Havurah fellowship, served on several Board positions including Board President, and regularly provided educational and inspirational presentations which were in high demand. Without question, she enjoyed teaching in any form, be that in college, secular or social settings. A practitioner of her faith, Roberta was called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Shabbat Hanukkah, December 4, 1999, 25 Kislev 5760 in the presence of Temple Beth Shalom of Toms River.
As a member of Literacy Volunteers of America, Roberta gave many hours of herself teaching adults to read. In that role she not only made lifelong friends but proudly helped change lives for the better. Her many other accolades include recognition from Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services, Inc., for her dedicated services to the poor and willingness to accept pro bono cases; recognition from the Ocean County Superior Court for her service to the Special Civil Part Mediation Program; a certificate of appreciation from the New Jersey Association of Legal Secretaries for her volunteer support of their association. Roberta also enjoyed membership in the Jewish Federation of Ocean County, having also been recognized for her service on their board of directors.
To know Roberta was to know someone who was passionate about keeping in touch with her many family and friends from childhood, her schoolmates and generations of relatives. Roberta would call and write to most everyone she knew including former clients, and her personal library contains generations of touching and meaningful correspondence. Many will remember Roberta’s regular holiday letters, a summary of all things family and friends for the year prior. No reflection of Roberta would be complete without mention of her passion for “competing” on the game show Jeopardy!, which she would faithfully enjoy every day at 7 p.m., or recalling her singing the day away to classic tunes or self-made ditties.
While Roberta fought many health battles in her last few years, her passion for life and family never ceased. Her relationships with her grandchildren were especially important to her. She was strongly committed to her children and grandchildren when it came to their education. She lovingly created the ‘Stonehill Scholarship Fund’ which awarded the kids with money for good grades, which shall be continued in her memory by her daughter, Deborah.

Roberta is survived by her son Matthew & wife Victoria Kunz, daughter Deborah Kunz & fiancée Jack Lebovic, daughter Michele & husband Tony Cruz, and her grandchildren Preston, Kaitlyn, Connor, Aidan, and Andrew. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Susie, and niece Elizabeth.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Beth Israel Memorial Park, Route 1, Woodbridge, NJ 07095. Convene at the administration building no later than 9:45 a.m. for escort to the burial site, which is at Sinai Place / Montefiore Ave., Block Number 2, Section / Row F, Plot 12.

A memorial and Shiva service will follow for family and friends Thursday evening from 4-7 p.m. at the home of Matthew & Victoria Kunz, 222 Chandler Road, Jackson, NJ 08527.

Those interested in making memorial contributions in Roberta’s name are encouraged to do so with the charity of their choice, or organizations she was fond of such as the Jewish Federation of Ocean County, American Heart Association, Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 4623 Avenue N, Brooklyn, NY 11234-3614, or Temple Sholom of Flatbush, 2075 East 66th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11234.

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