Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
February 19, 2012
Andre J. Badalamenti, age 40 of Towaco, died on Sunday, February 19, 2012.
Andre grew up in Lincoln Park and graduated from Boonton High School with the class of 1989. He received his Masters Degree from the Manhattan School of Music and was a self-employed performer and music instructor. He was also involved with the Delbarton School clarinet and saxophone ensembles. He had played in several Broadway show orchestras, movie scores, TV series, and symphonies. He was a multi-gifted and highly respected individual.
Andre was a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, teacher, neighbor. To his parents, Andre was their baby boy and source of tremendous pride as he grew to a man. His sister, Danielle, states simply that he was her best friend, her rock. To his nephews Jake and Nick he was a constant source of fun and guidance. Rachel, his wife, has lost her person, the one who always made her feel safe and unconditionally loved. For Rowan and Maddyn he was “my daddy”, and everything that this means to a child.
Andre and his family struggled with his hemophilia, a diagnosis that necessarily placed restrictions on his life. He was not the little boy who was free to run wildly around the playground. He experienced periods of great pain. However, Andre never felt bitter or resentful of his circumstances. With his parents’ guidance, Andre strove for excellence and lived a well-rounded life.
Andre cultivated his love of, and talent for, music into his life’s work. He never forgot a fact, was a fierce competitor in cards and board games, and loved to tell a good story. He was a huge Giants and Yankees fan. In golf he found a sport that he loved and gave him the opportunity to spend time with his dad. It also provided him an opportunity to pursue his love of conversation, fellowship and gossip.
Andre will be remembered as a man who was fiercely loyal to his friends and family. His love for them knew no bounds. Andre met his wife Rachel nine years ago. She was drawn to his kindness, humor and self-confidence. In each other they recognized a bond that only grew stronger during their time together. In their daughters they experienced the realization of the love and commitment they shared. Andre was never happier than when he was with his family and providing his daughters with new experiences. Together they explored museums, Central Park, historical sites and all the things loving daddies do with their little girls.
Andre was relied upon for his good sense, his absolute faith in himself and the courage of his convictions. There is not a member of his family or closest friends that have not come to him for advice when faced with their own dilemmas or were in need of a sounding board. Andre was never short of an opinion on most any topic. Described by many as good and kind and generous, Andre opened his heart and his home to those who were privileged enough to be welcomed into his inner circle.
Andre was also a talented musician and a gifted teacher. Even those who lived with that knowledge daily have been humbled by the outpouring of gratitude that has been memorialized in the volume of tribute that has come to him from former and current students, and from their families. Many have credited Andre not with just their success as musicians, but also with the guidance that has instilled in them their own belief in themselves, their commitment to their craft, and the confidence to steer their own journeys into adulthood.
May we find comfort in knowing that parts of him live on in the music we hear, the giggles of his little girls, and the warmth we feel in our hearts when we mention his name. And maybe, just maybe, the man committed to the rationale and the power of each individual to chart their own course may, nonetheless, be watching over us and offering, as he did in life, his courage, his love, and his strength to guide us forward.
Andre is survived by his loving wife of six years, Rachel (nee Shane) of Towaco; his two daughters, Rowan and Maddyn; his parents, Angelo and Lonny Badalamenti of Lincoln Park; his sister Danielle Badalamenti of Kinnelon; his nephews Jake and Nick Silvoy of Kinnelon; and his mother in law, Joan Shane of Pequannock; as well as many more dear family and friends. A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at the First Reformed Church, 529 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Andre’s memory to the Garden Academy, 276 Parker Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 07040 would be greatly appreciated. The Garden Academy serves children with autism, including Andre’s daughter. Your gift will not only preserve his legacy, but also help other children in need.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
February 19, 2012
Andre J. Badalamenti, age 40 of Towaco, died on Sunday, February 19, 2012.
Andre grew up in Lincoln Park and graduated from Boonton High School with the class of 1989. He received his Masters Degree from the Manhattan School of Music and was a self-employed performer and music instructor. He was also involved with the Delbarton School clarinet and saxophone ensembles. He had played in several Broadway show orchestras, movie scores, TV series, and symphonies. He was a multi-gifted and highly respected individual.
Andre was a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, teacher, neighbor. To his parents, Andre was their baby boy and source of tremendous pride as he grew to a man. His sister, Danielle, states simply that he was her best friend, her rock. To his nephews Jake and Nick he was a constant source of fun and guidance. Rachel, his wife, has lost her person, the one who always made her feel safe and unconditionally loved. For Rowan and Maddyn he was “my daddy”, and everything that this means to a child.
Andre and his family struggled with his hemophilia, a diagnosis that necessarily placed restrictions on his life. He was not the little boy who was free to run wildly around the playground. He experienced periods of great pain. However, Andre never felt bitter or resentful of his circumstances. With his parents’ guidance, Andre strove for excellence and lived a well-rounded life.
Andre cultivated his love of, and talent for, music into his life’s work. He never forgot a fact, was a fierce competitor in cards and board games, and loved to tell a good story. He was a huge Giants and Yankees fan. In golf he found a sport that he loved and gave him the opportunity to spend time with his dad. It also provided him an opportunity to pursue his love of conversation, fellowship and gossip.
Andre will be remembered as a man who was fiercely loyal to his friends and family. His love for them knew no bounds. Andre met his wife Rachel nine years ago. She was drawn to his kindness, humor and self-confidence. In each other they recognized a bond that only grew stronger during their time together. In their daughters they experienced the realization of the love and commitment they shared. Andre was never happier than when he was with his family and providing his daughters with new experiences. Together they explored museums, Central Park, historical sites and all the things loving daddies do with their little girls.
Andre was relied upon for his good sense, his absolute faith in himself and the courage of his convictions. There is not a member of his family or closest friends that have not come to him for advice when faced with their own dilemmas or were in need of a sounding board. Andre was never short of an opinion on most any topic. Described by many as good and kind and generous, Andre opened his heart and his home to those who were privileged enough to be welcomed into his inner circle.
Andre was also a talented musician and a gifted teacher. Even those who lived with that knowledge daily have been humbled by the outpouring of gratitude that has been memorialized in the volume of tribute that has come to him from former and current students, and from their families. Many have credited Andre not with just their success as musicians, but also with the guidance that has instilled in them their own belief in themselves, their commitment to their craft, and the confidence to steer their own journeys into adulthood.
May we find comfort in knowing that parts of him live on in the music we hear, the giggles of his little girls, and the warmth we feel in our hearts when we mention his name. And maybe, just maybe, the man committed to the rationale and the power of each individual to chart their own course may, nonetheless, be watching over us and offering, as he did in life, his courage, his love, and his strength to guide us forward.
Andre is survived by his loving wife of six years, Rachel (nee Shane) of Towaco; his two daughters, Rowan and Maddyn; his parents, Angelo and Lonny Badalamenti of Lincoln Park; his sister Danielle Badalamenti of Kinnelon; his nephews Jake and Nick Silvoy of Kinnelon; and his mother in law, Joan Shane of Pequannock; as well as many more dear family and friends. A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at the First Reformed Church, 529 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Andre’s memory to the Garden Academy, 276 Parker Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 07040 would be greatly appreciated. The Garden Academy serves children with autism, including Andre’s daughter. Your gift will not only preserve his legacy, but also help other children in need.
Guestbook