Former Monmouth University President Dies In Motorcycle Crash

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ — The former president of Monmouth University was killed in a motorcycle crash March 26 in a rural part of New Jersey.

Grey Dimenna, 72, was killed at 3:44 p.m. last Thursday on Rt. 519 in Kingwood Township, Hunterdon County. State Police say he was driving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle south on Rt. 519 when he collided head-on with a Dodge pick-up truck headed north on that same road.

Dimenna was ejected from the motorcycle and sustained fatal injuries. The driver of the pick-up truck sustained minor injuries. He stayed at the scene and no charges have been filed at this time, said NJ State Police Trooper Christopher Postorino.

At the time of his death, Dimenna was living in Lambertville, where he lived with his wife, Nancy Kaplen, and was retired.

Dimmena was a lawyer; before he worked for Monmouth University, he started his career as a deputy attorney general for the New Jersey Attorney General. Dimmena then became general counsel for Monmouth University, then its vice president and was president of the school for two years, from 2017 to 2019. After his retirement, he remained on its board of directors for the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music.

Monmouth University announced his death in this announcement the day after his death, March 27.

"During his time as vice president and general counsel, Grey mentored scores of student interns in his office, guiding many to successful careers in law," said current Monmouth U. president Patrick Leahy. "That same dedication to student outcomes guided his leadership as president. He approached decisions with a consistent focus on student welfare, placing student success at the center of our work."

His family asks that any charitable donations be made to support the Grey J. Dimenna and Nancy Kaplen Distinguished Endowed Scholarship at Monmouth Universit, his family said in his obituary. Checks can be made payable and sent to “Monmouth University” c/o University Advancement, 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764 or online at http://www.monmouth.edu/Dimenna