Craig George Hale

Craig George Hale, 67, lifelong resident of Jersey City, entered into eternal rest on October 9, 2025 at Christ Hospital, the very place where he was born on June 22, 1958.

Craig was the beloved husband of Gail Linda Hale (née Berlinghof) and the devoted father of Megan Renee Hale and Ashley Dawn Hale. He was the loving brother of Linda Cuprill and the cherished son-in-law of Dorothy Berlinghof. Craig is also survived by his sisters-in-law Lisa and Tom Purcell, Patty Storey, Doreen Berlinghof, Diane Berlinghof, and Susanne Acosta, as well as seven adored nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Bridget Theresa (née McCormack) and Jack Hale, his brother Wayne Hale, his brothers-in-law Steve Cuprill and Luis Acosta, and his father-in-law Peter Berlinghof.

Craig attended St. Anne's Catholic School, Jersey City and William L. Dickinson's high school, and later attended bartending school. He dedicated over 20 years to the printing industry before continuing his professional path as a bartender and bar manager. He retired from the Best Western Hotel in 2023, leaving behind many friends and fond memories. Craig had a lifelong passion for sports—especially cheering for the Mets, Giants, and Knicks—and loved both bowling and basketball. A proud “Dead Head,” he was a devoted fan of the Grateful Dead, and his favorite movie, Animal House, reflected his fun-loving spirit. Those who knew Craig remember his sharp wit, generosity, and honesty. Above all, he cherished spending time with his wife, daughters, and beloved cats. To his family, he was both “a riot” and “a brilliant man.”

Visitation is Friday, October 17, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Riotto Funeral Home & Cremation Company, 3205 Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ. (For GPS Navigation, it is best to use the parking lot address: 14 Stagg Street).  Cremation is private.  In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/) or to Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).

Two quotes that beautifully capture Craig’s spirit and the love he leaves behind are from Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne: “If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.” “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”