Sebastian Gaeta

Sebastian Gaeta, Jr., Captain, United States Navy (retired), died Thursday, July 8th, 2021.

Sebastian was born December 30, 1936 in Hackensack, New Jersey, the son of the late Katherine Aversa Gaeta and the late Sebastian Gaeta. He is survived by his beloved wife, Helen Cook Gaeta, his sister, Lois Avery Gaeta Baker, his daughters, Mary Katherine Gaeta, Elizabeth Lynn Gaeta, Joanne Marie Gaeta, step-daughter Elizabeth Ann Cook, step-son, Christopher Benjamin Cook, granddaughter Danielle Howard and step-granddaughters, Alexandra Elizabeth Cook and Madison Renee Noe.

His early years were spent in Wyckoff, New Jersey. Following graduation from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey in 1959, he enrolled at the Marshall Wythe School of Law, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia and earned his law degree in June 1962.

After successfully passing the Virginia and New Jersey bar examinations, he enlisted as an officer candidate in the United States Navy, receiving his commission as a lieutenant (junior grade) Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps.

In 1973, he received a Master of Laws (Law, Psychiatry and Criminology) from George Washington University.

Naval duty stations included Commanding Officer, Naval Legal Service Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Director, Navy Marine Corps Appellate Defense Division, Washington, D.C. and Circuit Military Judge, Northeast and Southeast Judicial Circuits.

Captain Gaeta was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Legion of Merit.

Upon retirement from the Navy at Naval Base Charleston 1989, Sebastian and Helen continued to reside in Mount Pleasant. Sebastian was a municipal judge for Mount Pleasant. When appointed as an administrative law judge by the governor of New Jersey, they moved to New Jersey in 1993. In June 1999, Sebastian was sworn in as a judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, serving as a family part judge and then a criminal part judge in the Bergen County Justice Center, Hackensack, New Jersey.

Upon his seventieth birthday, as required by law, Sebastian retired from the Superior Court to the place he and Helen considered home: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

He was an avid golfer which went all the way back to his teen-age years. He loved his golfing friends at Snee Farm Country Club. One year, he qualified to play in the South Carolina Amateur, which was held on Kiawah Island. He also played in The Rice Planters Amateur. He was a member of the VFW - Post on the Coast, Isle of Palms, SC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to East Cooper Meals on Wheels. Their telephone number is 843-881-9350. He delivered meals for many years on a one-day per week basis. Their mailing address is: P.O. Box 583, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29465

Celebration of life to be decided upon for a later date d/t COVID-19.


Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at https://www.mcalister-smith.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL & CREMATION, Mt. Pleasant, 1520 Rifle Range Rd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464, (843) 884-3833.