Cosmo "Gus" Mongiello

Cosmo “Gus” Mongiello, age 76, of Pompton Plains, went home to his heavenly rest to be embraced by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, September 26, 2024.

The son of Anthony and Rita (Maresca) Mongiello, Gus was born and raised in Jersey City. He was a 1966 graduate of Saint Peters Preparatory School. Pursuing higher education, Gus attended Saint Peters College where he graduated in 1970 with his bachelor’s degree in accounting. During college Gus served in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and for several years after in the United States Army National Guard.

Gus’ hard work in these early years of life earned him a stellar reputation. Consequently, he was well sought after, and able to secure his first career position with the prestigious Peat, Marwick, Michell and Company accounting firm. In the ensuing years, he gained valuable knowledge and experience which landed him Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Hackensack Hospital – later to become known as Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC). His career with HUMC spanned over twenty-five years, including a return to school to earn his masters degree in finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Gus, exhibiting professionalism rare to come by, earned the respect of many who still talk about his leadership and professionalism as CFO to this day. 

After serving HUMC for 27 years, Gus opted for retirement but came out of it two years later when he joined the staff of Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains in the finance department. After about a decade, Gus completely retired from hospital finance.

Gus and his beloved wife Carol met when they were just fifteen years old. She went to an all-girls school in Jersey City, and he went to an all-boys school in Jersey City. They lived on the same long street, but at different ends, their paths’ never crossing until Carol’s girlfriend (Gus’s neighbor) introduced them.

They became inseparable right away, then on April 1, 1964, April Fools Day of all days, they officially started going steady. Their courtship spanned seven years – throughout Gus’ college and National Guard duty – ultimately leading to Gus’ proposal of marriage to Carol on Christmas Eve 1969. Carol found the engagement ring hidden is the Christmas tree, and gleefully said yes.

On Sunday, June 4, 1971, Gus and Carol exchanged their wedding promises before God, family, and friends at Our Lady of Victories Church in Jersey City. Five years after the wedding and honeymoon, Mr. and Mrs. Mongiello moved from Jersey City to Pompton Plains with their first child, where they have remained to the present. They were blessed with four more children after their move, seeing each of the five children a beautiful gift from God!

Gus was a family man, and a diligent caretaker of the home. While many guys would camp in front of the television on a Saturday afternoon watching sports, or sleep in, Gus was busy being a fruit-bearing provider. Some of his favorite activities were getting outdoors in God’s creation, enjoying fresh air and, with sleeves rolled up, tending to his garden, caring for the yard, and fixing things too useful to throw away.

Gus cared for his garden, his yard, his home in a way most busy professionals wouldn’t have time to execute. He shared his garden, his logical mind, and his practical home up-keep skills with all willing to partake. He found a way, in between his busy work life, to be a “Mr. Fix It” at home, and had enough tools to fill two hardware stores. His love of learning and hard-work paired with his sense of financial responsibility fueled his desire to tackle many home projects the average, white-collared guy would leave to the pros.

By far the greatest passions of Gus’ life were his love of God and the greatest affection for his family. Eager to learn already as a young man, he had read the holy Bible from cover to cover. As life went on, his faith only grew. Nourished by the reading of his bible and active involvement with his family of fellow believers at Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church in his hometown of Pompton Plains, Gus served several times as a deacon in his church. He had recently started a challenge to memorize twelve Psalms per year and he genuinely enjoyed a trip with Carol and church friends to the Holy Land a few years back.

Gus’ love for his family was apparent in lots of ways. He was happiest when they could all be together at the table, like on the holidays, but he also always made time to talk one-on-one with his wife, children, grandchildren, friends, and strangers. He was the unanimous go-to person for any type of problem. Mixing a vast amount of wisdom, patience, listening skills, good questions, and care, Gus was always honored to walk a family member, friend, or stranger through any challenge. You knew you could always approach him with confidence to bounce an idea off him because you knew he would be genuinely happy to help you talk it through.

Gus was the beloved husband of Carol (Citarella), blessed in cherished and devoted marriage for 53 years. He was the most loving father of: Gina Mongiello of Pompton Plains, Marissa Mongiello and husband David Carpentier of Copake, New York, Kristen Hayzler and husband Rich of Pompton Plains, Matthew Mongiello and wife Kimberly of Pequannock, and Kevin Mongiello of Henderson, Nevada; adoring grandfather of Ryan, Brooke, and Elias; dear brother of Robert Mongiello of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Judy Quirk and husband Dennis of Brick, NJ. And dear uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Gus was loved by many.

For a quiet man, who just showed up daily to faithfully execute what he saw as his duty, he sure made his rounds in this world, capturing the hearts of people everywhere he went.

He will be missed more than words could ever allude.

And he will always be remembered as our go-to-guy.

No problem was too big or small to bring to Gus. He was the man you wanted around, whether you were fixing a clogged drain, buying a car, or making a tough life decision.

He was your friend until the end.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to support Israel Quaresma's education for ministry. Checks can be made to Israel Quaresma and sent c/o Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church to 415 Boulevard, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444.