Pharmacy gives new meaning to 'family atmosphere'
BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent
Tony's Family Pharmacy in Freehold Township gives new meaning to the kind of friendly, family atmosphere that employees and customers experience at the store.

Julie and Tony DeBlasio

Because of a unique set of circumstances, pharmacist Tony DeBlasio, owner of the pharmacy, and his wife, Christy, adopted the child of a couple who were customers of the pharmacy.

"Never thought I would adopt a child of a customer," said DeBlasio, a Bayville resident who has owned the pharmacy for more than 19 years. "I've helped people before with problems, but never to this extent."

About 10 years ago, DeBlasio met a couple with addiction and financial problems. They were receiving public assistance to help cope with their problems.

The couple became store customers, and then seven years ago they asked him for a really big favor.

"They asked me to take their 7-week-old baby girl, Julie," said DeBlasio, 55, a father of three adult children — Andrea, Jaimie and Anthony, and grandfather of three boys.

DeBlasio explained that the couple had run out of options and the baby would be placed in the Monmouth County system of the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) unless a home could be found for the baby.

"After the initial shock, I talked it over with my wife, and as we were in the 'empty-nest syndrome' stage, decided to take the baby as a friend of the family under DYFS," he said. "We thought at best we would always be an aunt and uncle to the child, never thinking mother and father."

For six months, the DeBlasio family loved and cared for Julie. Then the child's maternal grandmother was found and DYFS gave her custody of the infant. "We were not family members and had no rights to keep her," said DeBlasio.

When Julie was 2 years old, problems arose under the grandmother's custody. DYFS placed Julie with the DeBlasios, who knew they wanted to adopt her.

DeBlasio said adoption proceedings lasted six rough years and were finalized on Dec. 10, 2008, when Julie, now 7 years old, legally became their daughter.

"You have to have thick skin to take all the heartache, the ups and downs, the regulations plus court appearances involved in the adoption," said DeBlasio. "But it was worth it. Julie is a fantastic girl, and she changed our lives. She keeps us young. People who hear her story say Julie is very lucky, but we're the lucky ones to have her."

DeBlasio said he hears some of his customers say they want children but are unable to have them.

"There are so many children in the United States waiting for good homes," he said. "You don't have to go to foreign countries to adopt children. Children and infants are right here waiting."

DeBlasio, who has been a pharmacist for more than 30 years, offers some words of caution.

"I really believe Julie's parents loved her, but drugs got in the way and they couldn't cope," he said. "People who abuse drugs don't realize what effect their drug use has on other people, especially their children."

Julie's adoption and all of the proceedings that were a part of it, DeBlasio said, were shared by 15 employees.

"Julie is shared with all of them and comes into the store with hugs for everybody," he said. "She is the center of attention for us all."

Stephanie Howe, Freehold Township, has been a pharmacy employee for eight years. She describes DeBlasio as a wonderful boss.

"You can go to him with any problem and he'll try and help," Howe said.

She said Julie is a wonderful little girl, and they share something in common.

"I'll never forget her, because we share the same birthday," said Howe, 28.

Laurie Mercandante, Toms River, has worked for DeBlasio in the Freehold pharmacy and his other store, Millstone Family Pharmacy, for 15 years.

She said Tony loves being a pharmacist and always helps everybody, donating to schools, senior centers, police organizations, and many others.

"He sponsored a soccer team and volunteered in a local AIDS clinic center," said Mercandante. "Everybody loves Tony."

His employees, she said, also love working for DeBlasio.

"We're close to each other and really work like a family here," Mercandante said. "I love going to work, and I am very fortunate to be associated with this pharmacy and with Tony."

She related that when her daughter died in a tragic accident, her co-workers assumed her duties and DeBlasio paid her salary for six weeks until she was ready to come back to work.

"Tony said he wanted me to come back because I wanted to," she said, "not because I had to financially."

She isn't surprised that he adopted Julie and now wants to let people know about the other children waiting to be adopted.

"A sign over the pharmacy counter tells everyone the joy and blessing that Tony, his family and we employees feel about Julie's adoption," said Mercandante.

Among the organizations available to people who are considering adoption is the Monmouth Ocean County Adoptive Families Support Group, which helps families through the various stages of the adoption process. The group was started six years ago by Liz Grudus and Danielle Gibson and has about 100 members.

"There was nothing out there to help families smooth out the bumps of the adoption process," said Gibson. "It helps when you can talk to others who have been through the process, whether you are just thinking about adopting or have adopted."

The group holds meetings every third Friday of the month (except July and August) at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Parish, Colts Neck, and is not affiliated with any religious organization. Meetings include a speaker, discussion and socialization, and are open to the public.

"We say it's not if the adoption will happen, but when," said Gibson. "A support group helps you get through it."

For further information about the support group for adoptive families, call 732-473-9113 or visit www.freewebs.com/mocafsg/.