Edward Gambuti

Edward Gambuti, age 82 of N. Haledon, died peacefully on Thursday, June 15, 2023. He was owner of Main Wholesale Florist of Clifton, NJ and Hawthorne, NY.

Ed grew up in the 21^st Ave neighborhood of Paterson and attended East Side High School. At sixteen years old, he began working for his uncle at his wholesale florist supply company, which was located on Main St. in Paterson at the time. He was a dedicated and extremely hard worker, often putting in 6-1/2 days per week, which probably helped to keep him out of trouble. In 1982, Ed bought the company from his uncle and he’s owned Main Wholesale Florist ever since. Along with the help of his three sons, they’ve grown the company to be among the largest wholesale florist suppliers in the area.

Ed was also a dedicated family man, and he utterly adored his wife Janet. They met at a bar in Lodi, NJ, and after a few dances, Eddie asked her out to the movies. Things started off just great, until Janet learned that Eddie had a habit of dumping girlfriends after about two weeks. When she learned that Eddie was planning to breakup with her, she cunningly let him know how heartbroken her mother was going to be if he ever did so. Eddie, always the sweetheart, planned another date with Janet, and the rest is history. They were married on September 22, 1963, at St. Francis of Assisi RC Church in Hackensack, followed by a honeymoon to the Poconos. Throughout their sixty years together, they traveled extensively, mostly to floral trade conventions in places like Costa Rica, Hawaii, and the Cayman Islands. Ed loved the beach, any beach, and enjoyed a home on Long Beach Island for many years, and they wintered in Naples, Florida as well. He was happiest at any place where he could be on the beach and see the water. Janet describes Ed as “passive and non-confrontational.” She also describes their sixty years together as being very peaceful, calm, and filled with a lot of laughter. She will miss him dearly.

Ed’s hobbies included photography and he was an excellent bowler back in the day. He also enjoyed cooking and made some incredible Italian dishes, and there was something very special about his tomato salad that made everyone ask for more. His greatest love was indeed his family. Besides being a great husband, he was an incredible father who led by example each and every day. He adored his ten grandchildren and there was nothing that made him happier than being with them, sharing hugs and snuggles. Perhaps among his greatest compliments was when his granddaughter said; “I want to marry someone just like Poppy.” They too will all miss him dearly.

Ed is survived by his wife of sixty years; Janet (nee Paladino) of N. Haledon, their three sons; Ed Jr. and his wife Darlene of N. Haledon, Greg and his wife Cheryl of Wayne, and Jeff and his wife Stacey of Wyckoff, and ten grandchildren; Eddie, Alexa, Gianna, Megan, Noelle, Hunter, Nicholas, Olivia, Anthony, and Sophia.