From the Asbury Park Press:

WALTER (DUKE) JOHN HODNOVICH, 85, of Clearwater, Fla., died June 17 at Hospice Woodside, Pinellas Park, Fla. Born in Secaucus, he resided in Middletown, prior to moving to Clearwater 14 years ago. He was a driver at Paul's Trucking, Woodbridge, for 20 years, retiring in 1990.

He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a communicant of St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church, Clearwater. He was a member of the Republican National Committee. He was predeceased by his first wife, Jean Joyce Matthews 15 years ago. He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Irene Matthews Hodnovich; two sons, Edward Hodnovich of Brick Township, and Robert Hodnovich of Middletown; a daughter, Ann Paris of Bayonne; a sister, Connie Viviani of Secaucus; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A funeral liturgy was held at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. Burial was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. Arrangements were by John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown.

So how is it that I am here today paying tribute to my Father-In-Law?

61 years ago two seemingly unrelated events transpired: In Australia, thousands of miles from his home, Duke met and married my wife's mom. At the very same time in Uzbekistan, my father, also very many thousands of miles from his home met and married my mom. Thirty years later through the most improbable series of events I met and married his daughter Ann. As convenience would have it we shared the same birthday and so we could wish each other Happy Birthdays and exchange jokes on the same phone call. If you can arrange to marry a girl whose father has the same birthday as you, I recommend it highly.