Loretta C. (Keim) Best

Loretta C. Best, 88, a longtime area resident passed away on Saturday 12/31/22. Loretta was the only child of German immigrants Herman and Elfriede Keim and learned to speak English when she entered Kindergarten. She was an accomplished pianist and studied at Julliard in her youth. She graduated from Atlantic City High School in 1952 and married her high school sweetheart John R. Best III, former council member and mayor of Ventnor City, at St. James Catholic Church in Ventnor.

Her joy in life was raising her active family of 4 children with summers on the family houseboat in the Chesapeake Bay, ski trips in Canada and travel abroad. She was an active member of the Charity League, Sons of Italy, and Olde Tymers of Atlantic City as well as a Miss America contestant hostess. Loretta also worked for many years as a local real estate agent. Her hobbies were tennis, dancing, race car driving, card games, trips to Broadway Shows, cooking and reading.

Loretta is survived by her 4 children Kathleen Best (Stephen Green) of Manlius, NY, John R. Best IV (Linda Bakos) of Northfield, NJ, Mark S. Best (Lin) of Jupiter, FL and Mary Lou Best (Stephen Somsky) of Northfield, NJ. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren; Caroline, Stephen, Sarah, John, Brianna, Dylan, Stephen, Megan and Hanna, and 1 great grandchild, Charles. She was also very close to Dr. Anthony Musarra, Jr. and Christy Serago (Jody) and thought of them to be like her children.

A memorial service will be held at St. James's Catholic Church in the Fall of 2023.

Condolences may be extended to the family and for future updates for the memorial service please go to www.mathewsonforani.com.
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Loretta C. (Keim) Best, please visit our floral store.