Deputy Mayor Eric Houghtaling speaks to OGHOA. Paul Goldfinger photo. 2012. Blogfinger.net
Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net. Ocean Grove, NJ, USA. Re-Post 11/25.
2012: Eric was an electrician when he was elected to be a Neptune Committeeman. I would sometimes see him working high up on a lift at Wegmans. He was always willing to chat a bit with me. He was exemplary as a Committeeman as well as later when he was Deputy Mayor and then Mayor. Some years later he represented us in Trenton as Assemblyman.
Eric Houghtaling was a true representative of the people. I recall one Committee meeting when Jack Bredin was speaking to the Committee. There was an important handout, and each official had one, but there was none for Jack. Eric handed Jack his copy. It was an honest and thoughtful, even democratic, gesture, and neither Jack nor I ever forgot it. He was the only committeeman who was receptive in speaking to me (Blogfinger.net) about public issues. He was not afraid of transparency. He did remind me of New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia.
Sometimes I would see Eric’s beautiful family in the Grove at a parade. They would be waving flags and cheering for Dad as he marched by.
Linda Houghtaling and their sons at the OG Memorial Day parade a few years ago. Paul Goldfinger photograph . Blogfinger.net
And here is a link to Eric at the 2025 Veterans Day event in Neptune”
Eric Houghtaling Veterans Day. 2025
Broadway cast of Fiorello: “On the Side of the Angels”