TOMS RIVER — A former Jersey Shore police captain whose three sons followed in his footsteps died suddenly this week at the age of 78.

Harry Dellane, who worked for Toms River Police for 29 years before his retirement in 1992 as a captain, died in Galloway on Tuesday, according to a statement from township police spokesman Ralph Stocco.

One of his sons is Stafford Police Chief Thomas Dellane. His son Jimmy is a retired sergeant from Manchester, and Patrick is a lieutenant with Toms River.

"Harry was a one-of-a-kind man with a marvelous sense of humor. He was a wonderful husband and an endearing family patriarch whose larger-than-life personality provided us with stories, memories and laughter to cherish for years to come," Stocco said

Dellane was Toms River's first K9 officer and taught at the county colleges in Ocean and Burlington.

A viewing for Dellane will be 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, at the Silverton Memorial Funeral Home on Church Road. His funeral is  10 a.m. Saturday ay St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Hooper Avenue.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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