FOUNDATION SET UP FOR FAMILY OF FALLEN NJ TROOPER

At about 8 am sunday, June 6th, the young 29 year old Trooper Marc Castellano who wore badge #6397 was struck while on patrol. Called away from his original assignment at the Freehold Raceway Mall, the Trooper was investigating an abandoned car on I-195 that was involved in a police chase earlier that morning. As Marc searched the car the driver of the vehicle Diana Hoffman, hid in the near by bushes. Castellano was struck and injured which led to four fellow Howell officers calling for help. He later died from injuries at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. Diana Hoffman is held on $500,000 bail where she is charged with eluding police, resisting arrest and other offenses. She also lied about her companion.
Castellano will be remembered by classmates at Jackson Memorial High School as the senior team football captain. He graduated from high school in 1998 and receiving a scholarship from the Jackson PBA. Later Marc graduated from Rutgers University in 2003 with a B.S. degree and later went on to get his master's degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He was described as a gentleman and a hard worker by everyone that knew him.

Trooper Marc Castellano has made the ultimate sacrifice giving his life in the service of his fellow citizens. Facebook pages have been set up to remember his great life. Friends and family member's exchange stories, poems, and photos. Governor Chris Christie also announced flags will fly at half-staff for a week in his honor.

He is survived by and his wife stephanie and their two lovely young children: Daughter Julianna (4 years old) and Son Vincent (1 year old). The State Troopers Fraternal Association of New Jersey has set up a fund for Castellano's two children. Contributions to the fund can be made to the Tpr. Castellano Children's Fund, c/o STFA, 2634 Highway 70, Manasquan, NJ 08736. The fund is administered through TD Bank.