They say death comes in threes, at least when it comes to celebrities.

Berkeley Township isn't home to any Hollywood-types. But three residents, all dedicated to different causes, died suddenly and unexpectedly recently. And township officials and locals will be mourning their loss for some time to come.

The front of the police department building on Pinewald-Keswick Road is draped with purple bunting. A police officer's hat sits on top of a crisp uniform and highly-polished black shoes. Just a few days ago an electric traffic sign at the foot of the driveway flashed the words "R.I.P. Dave Hardie" and the number "299," his badge number.

David W. Hardie, a retired police captain and former interim police chief, died suddenly of a heart attack at age 54 on March 25.  He was more than a cop. He was a devoted member of the Morning Star Presbyterian Church in Bayville and  helped run the church's food pantry.

The death of Peter "Route 9 Pete" Coppola also saddened many. Locals remember him trekking up and down Route 9 in both Bayville and Lanoka Harbor, in a perpetual effort to keep the roadways free of trash from passing drivers.

Coppola was struck by a 2011 Ford Explorer on March 7, as he tried to cross Route 9 South. He was hit on the same highway he spent so much of the last years of  his life trying to keep clean. Coppola died several days later in the intensive care unit at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

And the flag in front of V.F.W. Post 9503 flew at half mast today, to honor former Post Commander Don Marshall, who died today at 61, after a brief illness. He would have turned 62 on Friday.

Marshall's death was a blow to Post 9503 members, where Marshall had also served in just about every position that Post Chaplain Larry Kelly could remember.

"We noticed about a month ago he was losing weight," said Kelly, who considered Marshall a good friend. "Three weeks ago he went into the hospital and never came out."

"The V.F.W. was Don's life," Kelly said. "He really loved it and he did a lot more than I could probably tell you. He helped me enormously when I joined the V.F.W.  I'm going to miss him terribly."

Marshall will be waked from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Mastapeter Funeral Home in Bayville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Barnabas R. C. Church in Bayville on Tuesday. Marshall will be buried at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown after his funeral, Kelly said.

Both Mayor Jason J. Varano and Township Council Vice President Carmen J. Amato Jr. said today Marshall would be missed.

"He was dedicated to all matters related to veterans, speaking on their behalf at our reorganization meetings, holiday celebrations and veterans' " Varano said. "He fought tirelessly for veterans' benefits, winning an increase in the veterans' tax rebates. Don was a fixture at all of our summer concerts, lending a hand, doing what we asked of him. We will miss his presence."

"Don was a tireless advocate on behalf of all veterans, not only in Berkeley Township, but throughout New Jersey," Amato said. "I had the honor and privilege to know Don both personally and through the activities at VFW.  Today, Berkeley Township lost a true community servant, the VFW and eterans lost an untiring advocate and I lost a true friend.  My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, his children and entire Marshall family." 

Memorials for Hardie and Coppola are already in the works. The Township Council on April 12 discussed naming a field at the Whispering Pines township park after Hardie. They also unanimously passed a resolution honoring Coppola - who lived in Bayville - for his works. Chances are, there will be some type of tribute or resolution honoring Don Marshall at the next council meeting.

Berkeley Township owes all three men thanks for what they did in this life.  The people who are considered celebrities these days would come up short, compared to them.