Peter Anton Flihan Jr.

Peter A. Flihan, Jr., 83, of Mantoloking, NJ, passed away suddenly on Monday, March 15th, 2021. Born in Utica, NY on November 1st, 1937, he was the only child of Peter A. Flihan Sr. and Josephine Flihan (nee: Emma). A graduate of St. Francis DeSales High School, Mr. Flihan went on to attend Fordham University in the Bronx, where he was elected to the prestigious Fordham Club before he graduated with a degree in Economics in 1959. His commitment to, and pride expressed in his Rams would last for the rest of his life.

After college, he enlisted in the Army in response to a recruiting need for Military Police. However, that need decreased, resulting in his transfer to the 77th Infantry Reserves in New York for the remainder of his commitment. During his service in the Reserves, he started a job as a Buyer at B.Altman & Co., where he met his first wife, Priscilla Pfurr. They had two sons, Peter Anton Flihan, III (of Westchester County, NY) and Andrew Royce Flihan (of Ocean County, NJ) before moving to Wintersville, Ohio and subsequently divorcing in 1972.

Mr. Flihan went on to work as a Buyer for Child World in Massachusetts in the early 70s. While there, he met Linda Hejduk Fortin, an accomplished artist, and the two started a romance that would lead to a marriage they would enjoy until his passing.

Mr. Flihan, moved to a job in New York City with a stuffed toy manufacturer, Commonwealth Toy. Seeing a niche in that market, he and Ms. Hejduk started their own stuffed toy manufacturer, Westcliff Limited. His son Peter joined them soon after, where they enjoyed more than a dozen years in business, travelling extensively to South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia and China, as well as to trade shows around the USA.

As they approached retirement, Mr. Flihan and Ms. Hejduk moved from Westchester County, NY to Mantoloking, NJ in 2003. They enjoyed extensive travel throughout the world. Mr. Flihan enjoyed his membership and activity in the Mantoloking Men’s Club, and his patronage of the Ocean County Medical Center, and as an honored member of the board at Algonquin Arts Theatre. But one of his favorite jobs was “helping” Santa make his rounds every year on the Mantoloking and Bay Head Fire Department Engines. He was a lifelong New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

Besides his wife and children, Mr. Flihan leaves behind 2 grandchildren from his son Peter; Emma Victoria (of NY, NY) and Joseph Peter (of Westchester County, NY), and a niece, Ainsley Tufts Johnson, and nephew, Brandon Adam Tufts, both of Florida.

Arrangements are under the care of Orender Family Home for Funerals, Manasquan. A memorial service is to be planned for later in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Algonquin Arts Theatre, Fordham University, Ocean County Medical Center, or the Mantoloking PBA. To leave condolences to the family please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net.