Businesses Raising Money For NJ Deli Owner Who Was Murdered

HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ — Restaurants and businesses in Haddon Township are coming together to help the family of the deli owner who was killed during a robbery last weekend.

Shamrock Deli’s Jerry Pastore Dine, Shop and Donate will take place on Thursday, Jan. 16, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. At that time, participating restaurants and shops will donate a portion of sales directly to the family of Jerry Pastore, who was killed at his deli on Friday, Jan. 3.

Pastore was reportedly killed when he confronted a man who attempted to steal the tip jar from his deli. Two days later, 18-year-old Dyheam Williams, of Lindenwold, was arrested at his home in connection with the murder. Williams will be held without bail pending trial, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

A running list of businesses participating in the event can be found on the event’s Facebook page.
An online fundraiser for Pastore’s wife Ethel had raised just over $50,000 as of Monday afternoon.

“I have been going to Shamrock deli my entire life and everyone was always so friendly,” the organizer wrote on the page. “I am asking the community to come together and help the Shamrock Deli family in any way we can. My heart goes out to the Shamrock Deli/Pastore Family.”

“Thank you to everyone who has graciously donated to our family,” Jenn Pastore wrote. “I want to share that this page was created by a very kind young woman who does not even know our family but experienced my dad’s kind heart each time she visited his deli. I will choose to focus on that rather than the violence that took him from us too soon. The funds will be used to help cover the cost of an unexpected funeral. Your generosity and kind words have made an otherwise horrific experience better.”

The sentiment was echoed on the “Dine, Shop and Donate” page, when the organizer wrote, “one thing about our small towns, we always have each other’s backs.”

In addition to his wife, Pastore had five children, according to his online obituary. From the obituary:

"Raised in Voorhees, Jerry inherited a love of bringing people together over a good meal from his beloved mother Ann. He pursued a fruitful career in the restaurant industry for the past four decades, teaching others to cook, helping friends run their businesses, and mentoring his colleagues, many of whom became his lifelong friends. In 2018, he pursued his passion and dream of entrepreneurship and became the owner/operator of Shamrock Deli, where he was pleased to greet customers and serve great food. He loved and appreciated his employees and customers and took great pride in making them feel at home.

"Outside of work, Jerry enjoyed fishing, golfing, gardening, working in his yard while enjoying a cigar, and just having a good time with the people he loved. There are so many people he touched in big ways and small ways, whether it was giving you something he had that you needed or sending you a text because he was thinking about you. Above all, Jerry loved his family and his life fiercely. His heart was pure gold, and he will be forever missed."

Read more here: Manhunt After South Jersey Deli Owner Killed: Cops