Maple Shade, NJ -  On May 14, 2024, age 67. "Chad" Vega (born Edwin Antonio Rivera Vega), was only six months old when his parents Felicita and Gilberto Vega left Puerto Rico for a new life in New York City.

He was their first born and had four siblings (Carmen, Edgardo, Gilbert and Gerard) and a half sister, Rosemary. Being raised in the Bronx, he attended the William H. Taft High School. His dream of being an artist started with acting lessons in Manhattan and he enjoyed performing in professional regional children's theater and then studied photography at The New School in Manhattan.

Chad proudly served our country in the U.S. Army.

Following two years away in Dublin, Ireland working as a general photographer and five in Los Angeles, as a freelance photographer at various Hollywood publications, he returned to Manhattan in 1992. Working at LTI Photographic Laboratory, he met Josephine Bentley (then an English citizen and a glamor/ life model, born in London) in 1998 and they quickly fell deeply in love.

Together, they established a photographic business, Chad Vega Photography, and created actor headshots, model portfolios, baby/ family portraits, glamor shots, sweet sixteen/ engagement/ wedding galleries, etc.

In 2001, they married in New York and soon bought a Victorian house and garden in NJ, which were big enough to accommodate their photographic business.

His love of acting never wained, though, and he was a member of SAG/ AFTRA, the actors' union, as a background actor on various NYC TV shows and a stand-in for various stars.

Chad's hobbies included reading artistic, historical and political books, watching movies, listening to music and taking care of feral and domesticated cats.

Mitchie, Benjie and Minnie are beloved furry friends buried in their garden.

Chad was very well liked and respected by his friends, colleagues, half-sister Rosemary, neighbors and former wife's family, he will be remembered as a kind and decent citizen of the world.  His good energy will live on indefinitely.

His peaceful death at the Palace Care Center in Maple Shade Township, NJ, was expected, due to inherited early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Chad was very thankful for Earl, his main care giver there.

Josephine remains his one true love, profound lover, soul mate, former wife…and forever friend.

'Love is patient, love is kind, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves.' (1 Corinthians 13;4-8)

She will always remember him with the following, as he used to call her "My thing of BEAUTY, my JOY forever.."

It's from their favorite poem;

'Endymion' by John Keats

English poet.

10/31/1795 -2/23/1821.

A Poetic Romance (excerpt)

'A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:

Its loveliness increases; it will never

Pass into nothingness, but will still keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health and quiet breathing.'

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Chad's Catholic service and U.S. Army Military Honors on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 1 pm at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery: 350 Provinceline Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Chad Vega. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCann-Healey Funeral Home, Gloucester City. Ph: 856-456-1142.