Frank Daryl Sittinger

Frank “Daryl” Sittinger, age 65, of West Milford passed away peacefully while receiving the loving care of his family and after a courageous battle with cancer.

Frank was born in Paterson and grew up in Wayne, NJ.  He became known to everyone close to him simply as “Daryl.”  Daryl was the youngest of three children to Robert and Margaret Sittinger.  He attended Wayne Valley High School where he excelled in sports, playing for the Wayne Valley High School varsity soccer team.  Following his graduation from Wayne Valley with the class of 1974, Daryl attended William Paterson College.  He was only there for about a year when he decided to focus on working full time.

Daryl found work quickly with the Passaic Rubber Company where he remained employed for a few years.  Daryl then shifted gears and accepted a position as a Route Sales Representative with Clinton Nursery based out of Fairfield where he sold “New Era” potting soil.  Sales was a talent that definitely fell into Daryl’s wheelhouse.  He transferred his sales talents and accepted another Route Sales Position with Snap-On Tools.  Daryl remained employed at Snap-On Tools for about nine years  when he accepted another job with the Wonder Bread Company located in Carlstadt, NJ.  Daryl worked as a Route Sales Rep with Wonder Bread for the next twenty years.

After leaving Wonder Bread, Daryl decided that it was time to further his education and re-enrolled in school, this time at Passaic County College.  While at Passaic County College, Daryl studied Radiology and earned his Associates Degree.  He then took an EMT course and earned a position at Aero Ambulance.  This was work that Daryl truly enjoyed and where he flourished.  Over the years Daryl met many people, touched many lives, and made wonderful acquaintances.  Daryl was also a Golf Ranger with the Crystal Springs Golf Resort at Ballyowen Golf Club.  Being an avid golfer, it came as no surprise that this was Daryl’s favorite job.  He held this position through this last golf season.

While Daryl was in High School, he wasn’t doing so well in his Algebra 2 Class.  The teacher told him that he would give him a passing grade if he transferred out of the class.  One evening while in high school, Daryl went out to a friend’s house to meet up with some people.  Among the people at the house were two attractive young girls named Sandy and Elaine.  Daryl had the two girls’ names mixed up and when he arranged for a “blind date” with Sandy, to his surprise, Elaine showed up at the Carvel Ice Cream Parlor to meet him.  Elaine happened to be the sister of Daryl’s Algebra 2 teacher.  Although Daryl set up the date with Elaine by mistake, the two of them hit it off wonderfully, started dating, and became high school sweethearts.  Daryl and Elaine dated for about five years and as fate would have it, they fell in love and were married on October 1, 1977 at the Jacksonville Chapel in Lincoln Park.  They honeymooned in a log cabin in Vermont, then the newlyweds settled in the city of Clifton.  They were only there for about a year when they moved to their hometown of Wayne where they remained for five years.  During their time living in Wayne, Daryl and Elaine welcomed the birth of their son Ryan.  The family then moved to West Milford and have been there ever since.  While living in West Milford, Daryl and Elaine welcomed their daughter Lindsay into the world.

Over the years while living in West Milford, Daryl worked closely with the West Milford PAL and served on the Board of Directors.  While serving on the board, Daryl created the township’s first girls traveling soccer league.  Daryl also coached boys and girls soccer in West Milford as well as refereed soccer games for West Milford and other neighboring towns.  Daryl was also a baseball umpire for the PAL league in his town and other neighboring towns as well.

Daryl enjoyed trout fishing and hunting for deer and pheasant.  He treasured many seasons of bird hunting with his son Ryan and daughter Lindsay.  He was also an avid golfer.  While working as a Route Sales Rep, it was difficult to get vacation time during the summers.  The family would often take their vacation time in winter so they adapted to the sport of skiing, which Daryl and his family became quite good at.  They cherished many yearly vacations at White Face Lodge in Lake Placid, NY.  Throughout the years, Daryl and Elaine enjoyed playing the card game Pinochle with friends.  Oddly enough, the couple that they often played with were Sandy (the girl he originally wanted to date in high school) and her husband.

Aside from all of Daryl’s talents, hobbies, and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Daryl than spending time with and providing for his family. He was affectionately known by his grandchildren as “Papa D.”  He and his wife Elaine have cherished forty-four years of loving and loyal marriage together.  Tragedy struck Daryl and his family in 2003 when he and Elaine’s only son Ryan passed away suddenly and unexpectedly leaving them broken hearted.

Daryl was always a jokester and had a wonderful sense of humor.  He loved putting smiles on people’s faces and had a laugh that was infectious to those who were with him.  He was kind hearted and caring, always stopping what he was doing to help a neighbor or a stranger in the supermarket.  He made friends quickly and easily and it seemed wherever his family went, people always knew Daryl by his first name.  Daryl was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Daryl is survived by his wife Elaine (nee Gross) of West Milford, NJ, one daughter Lindsay Licata and her husband Andrew of Sandyston, NJ, one brother Robert Sittinger and his wife Nancy of Glen Gardner, NJ, one sister Jennifer Hoage and her husband Ken of Kingsport, TN, and three grandchildren; Sarah Licata, Weston Licata, and Hayden Licata all of Sandyston, NJ.  Daryl was predeceased by his only son Ryan in 2003.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to West Milford First Aid Squad, 619 Ridge Rd, West Milford, NJ 07480, http://www.wmfas.org