Eugene Ingrassia

Eugene “Gene” Ingrassia, age 88 of Wayne, NJ passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

Born in Newark, NJ on October 23, 1936, to the late Anthony and Mary (nee LaVecchia) Ingrassia, Gene was raised in Irvington, NJ. He graduated from Irvington High School with the class of 1954 and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1958. In 1963, after attending evening classes at the Newark College of Engineering (now NJIT), he received a Masters of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and obtained his Professional Engineering License in NJ. In 1978, after attending the weekend program at Fairleigh Dickenson University in Rutherford, he received his Masters Degree in Business Administration.

Gene started his career at Kearfott in Clifton and Little Falls, NJ, where he met the love of his life, Patricia Grale. They married on June 7, 1964, and moved to Wayne, NJ, living there for over fifty years at four different locations. Their son, Jeffrey, was born in 1966 and daughter, Christie, in 1969, both in Wayne. Gene and Pat celebrated sixty years of marriage together this past June.

Gene and Pat had made a decision early in their marriage to place family ties first. This greatly influenced his work life in that despite many opportunities, they never relocated outside of New Jersey.

Besides Kearfott, he held positions of ever-increasing responsibility at Litton Industries/Monroe/Litton Business Systems in Orange and Pine Brook, NJ; Pyrotronics, Div. of Borg-Warner in Cedar Knolls, NJ; and at Cerberus/Siemens Building Technologies in Florham Park, NJ, retiring in 2001. These companies were involved in manufacturing products in a wide variety of markets, including guidance systems for aircraft and missiles, computer accounting systems, and fire protection systems for hi-rise buildings. He was promoted from Project Engineer to Project Manager to Director of Engineering to Vice President of Product Development, all in various high technology operations, but remained in New Jersey, living in only two towns his entire life; Irvington and Wayne. Gene never lived more than thirty miles from where he was born.

Gene enjoyed regular exercise, including long walks and working out at the Wayne WMCA, where he was a member since 1980. He also served for many years as a member of the Wayne Planning Board and Wayne Environmental Committee. For over ten years, he was a Board member of his townhouse community; Manitou Homeowners Association, and six years as the President.

Besides being the loving husband to Patricia, he was a devoted father to Jeffrey Ingrassia and his wife Regina of Red Bank, NJ and Christie Vanaria and her husband Matthew of Pompton Plains, NJ.  He was a cherished grandfather to Sierra Schwartz – Benedetto and her husband James, Michelle Vanaria, John Vanaria and step grandchildren Elizabeth Barham, Robert Barham and his wife Caitlyn. He was also a loving uncle to 7 nieces and nephews. He predeceased by his brothers; Archie and Anthony Ingrassia, his sister Frances Iezzi, and his nephew Christopher Noble Ingrassia.  

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to make a donation to your favorite charity.