Lorne T Ayres

Home News Tribune - June 06, 1986 Lorne T. "Lonnie" Ayers, P. Amboy sports writer Perth Amboy - Lorne T. "Lonnie" Ayres, a former Middlesex County public information officer, sports writer and editor at the Perth Amboy Evening News and sport columnist at The News Tribune, died May 30 at home. He was 68. He was born in Perth Amboy and lived in the city most of his life. Mr. Ayres was a retired sports writer for The News Tribune, Woodbridge, where he began working in 1949 when the paper was the Perth Amboy Evening News. He served as the newspaper's sports editor from 1950 until 1970. Mr. Ayres also had been a freelance writer for the World-Telegram, New York City, and The Home News. He previously had worked in the comptroller's office in Perth Amboy. He was director in 1971 of the Middlesex County Emergency Employment Act, a forerunner of CETA-the Comprehensive Employment and Training Administration- and served as secretary-manager with the Perth Amboy Parking Authority from 1972-1979. He was member of the Seminar Board of the American Newspaper Institute at Columbia University. He conducted journalism seminars for high school students throughout New Jersey and at several colleges and newspapers in the East. He instituted and promoted newspaper participation in the swim of a local man, Palmer Donnelly, around Staten Island, N.Y., which resulted in large crowds and national coverage. He was a member of The News Tribune Editorial Board. Mr. Ayres was a former winner of the N.J. Press Association Award for the state's top columnist, an award he won five times-including four consecutive times. He was also winner of "Page One" awards for distinguished writing. He operated the Middlesex County public information office in New Brunswick for a few years and was member of the New Jersey Sports Writers Association. Mr. Ayres was a graduate of the former St. Mary's High School, Perth Amboy, and Fordham University, where he majored in communications, journalism and feature writing and minored in business administration. He also attended Columbia University, where he took advanced journalism courses. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Surviving are his godchild, Deborah Criss of Spotswood; and a brother-in-law, Narcy Konopka of Westfield. Services will be 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Flynn & Sons Funeral Home, 424 East Ave., Perth Amboy, followed by an 11:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary's R.C. Church, Perth Amboy. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Perth Amboy. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Middlesex County chapter. ___________________ Siblings: Viola Ayres Konopka