UPDATE 01/11/ It is with great sorrow that we share the sad news that local Ocean County legend Sondra Fortunato, known for decades as Miss Liberty, has passed away. Fortunato had been battling stage 4 cancer for the past year.
UPDATE 09/14/ We have received the sad news that Sondra has unfortunately developed Stage 4 cancer, which has destroyed her left eye and is threatening her life. According to Jersey Shore Online, &#;The expenses associated with her treatment have resulted in the loss of her home, and she still needs more surgery to treat this very serious illness. Those who have ever gotten a smile out of her trademark sticker-covered car, or have ever had a conversation with her can let her know that won’t be forgotten. Miss Liberty needs you and you can help by visiting ?utm_campaign&#;
Story and photos by Ryan Doan for Weird NJ
A couple of years ago, I was pulling an all-nighter at the Brick Kinko’s. Despite the steady injection of stale coffee and the occasional buzzing of other zombie patrons, I could not wake up––that is, until the atmosphere changed around me.
Where moments ago there had been the doldrums of everyone keeping to their business, sud
OCEAN COUNTY – She could be described as bubbly, eccentric, vivacious and beautiful, but one thing was for sure: Sondra Fortunato also known as “Miss Liberty,” was larger than life. Sadly, Micromedia Publications has learned that she has passed away.
Miss Liberty was a special friend to Jersey Shore Online/Micromedia Publications and our thoughts are with her family and many friends at this time. She was once the unofficial cheerleader of the New York Giants and known for various meetups with celebrities and sports personalities in that role.
She was a resident of Toms River and that is where she was also well known if not an Ocean County celebrity in her own right.
Her appearances at special events such as the annual Toms River Halloween Parade always brought cheers as she traveled on a float or a car. One year, there was a pint-sized version of herself in the parade in the form of a young girl who emulated her Miss Liberty attire and famous decorated car.
Fortunato’s vehicle was well known. It was adorned with placards, newspaper articles (many of them from Micromedia) and she also previously took part in Southern Ocean County fil
Toms River's Miss Liberty going behind bars today
You've probably seen her car.
A Cadillac, covered with cardboard signs, regularly weaves its way around Monmouth and Ocean counties. "Celebrity," "Miss Liberty" and "Endowed With a Purpose" are some of the slogans taped to the vehicle's exterior.
You may have seen her in local parades, at Toms River restaurants or on the Seaside Heights boardwalk, where she's been crowned Miss Funtown Pier and Miss Seaside.
You may have called her crazy — and she won't disagree.
"It's a good crazy," says Sondra Fortunato, aka Miss Liberty. "I mean, how many people drive around in a parade car?"
Fortunato, who's been a flashy fixture in Toms River and throughout the Jersey Shore for decades, is directing her attention elsewhere this week as she prepares to go behind bars.
But it's not what you think.
According to Fortunato, who politely asked that we don't publish her age, the only run-in she's ever had with the law was in at a New York Giants game in East Rutherford, wearing a Santa suit that reportedly left too little to the imagination.
"I don't think I looked indecent," she says. "Security told me to put a coat over it. This was ri
Toms River's 'Miss Liberty,' Sondra Fortunato, self-made New Jersey beauty queen, has died
Two-minute read
TOMS RIVER - Sondra Fortunato, the self-promotional beauty queen known for multiple titles such as "Miss Liberty," who for years brought extravagant outfits, voluminous blonde hair and an eternal smile to the Jersey Shore, has passed away after battling illness.
Fortunato died at age 75 at Community Medical Center Thursday morning in Toms River, according to her husband John Ogden.
Fortunato's death comes after being stricken by cancer in her left eye as well as Bell's palsy over the past year or so.
Ogden has requested a permit from the township for a Miss Liberty Day Parade on April 19, where he said he will have all of Fortunato's signs to give out to the public for free.
The story of 'Miss Liberty': Learn more about Sondra Fortunato's remarkable life
"I just don't want to throw them out," he said. "I think everybody in Ocean County deserves a Sondra sign."
Over the years, Fortunato had a hand in seemingly every event, from high school graduations to professional sports games at the Shore and beyond. She raised money for charities and first responders, and p
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