Frank Monte

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Frank Monte, age 87 of Wanaque.  Frank passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Frank was born and raised in North Bergen, NJ and was the only child to Joseph and Anna Monte. While growing up in North Bergen, Frank attended Dickinson High School in Jersey City where he was a member of the boys varsity gymnastics team.  Following his graduation from Dickinson High School in 1953 he found work quickly as a carpenter and cabinet maker.  He soon started his own business which he owned and operated for nearly ten years.

In 1963, Frank was offered a position at Emerson High School in Union City as an Industrial Arts teacher.  Because of his advanced and brilliant carpentry skills, the school offered him the position, and while working at Emerson High, Frank attended Kean University at night to earn his bachelor’s degree and teacher’s certification.  Frank’s career as an Industrial Arts Teacher spanned a period of thirty-five years until his retirement in 1998.

Following his retirement, Frank kept busy crafting interior woodwork and furniture for his home and the homes of his family members.  In his retirement he also took up oil painting and sketching.  As a young man when his children were younger, he loved to cook and make wine in his basement.  He enjoyed camping at the Jersey shore where he would also go fishing and crabbing with his sons Frank Jr and Vincent.  Throughout his entire life, Frank had a passion for cars and motorcycles.  Over they years he had restored and rebuilt many cars including a 1965 Mustang, 1955 Crown Victoria, and a 1960 Cadillac Convertible.

In 1991, Frank was introduced to the love of his life, Pamela Lombardi, by some mutual friends.  Frank and Pamela immediately hit it off and started dating.  As fate would have it, they fell in love and on April 10, 1992, (Pamela’s birthday), they became husband and wife.

The newlyweds settled in Woodland Park where they remained for the next twenty-two years.  In 2013 Frank and Pamela moved to Wanaque where they have been ever since.

Aside from all of Frank’s hobbies, talents, and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Frank than providing for and spending time with his family.  He was a truly dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.  He and his wife Pamela cherished thirty years of loving and loyal marriage together.  On the outside Frank had a seemingly rough exterior, but those who got to know him best knew that he had a rather soft side to him.  Frank was kind, generous and a caring man who loved his family deeply.  Frank would often try to convince others, be it family or friends, that he was always right, and most often when he presented his argument or opinion, he almost always was right.  Not only was Frank dedicated to his family but he was also dedicated to his Catholic Faith.  Frank was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Frank will forever be remembered as a loving and dedicated husband, a devoted father, a treasured grandfather, and a great grandfather.

Frank is survived by his wife Pamela (nee Lombardi) of Wanaque, his two sons, Frank Monte, Jr. and his wife Marisa of North Bergen, NJ, and Vincent Monte and his wife Christine of Edgewater, NJ, one step-son; Jeffrey Gallo and his wife Kim of Broomfield, CO, and one step-daughter Susan Rosario of Lincoln Park, NJ, eight grandchildren; Joseph Monte and his wife Sophia of Fairview, NJ, Francesca Monte of Guttenberg, NJ, Vincent Monte and his fiancé Francesca Cennerazzo of Fort Lee, NJ, Alexa Daibes and her husband Paul of Cliffside Park, NJ, Christian Rosario of Pompton Plains, NJ, Noah Rosario of Pompton Plains, NJ, Sydney Rosario of Pompton Plains, NJ, and Taylor Gallo of Broomfield, CO, and two great grandchildren Victoria Monte, and Vincenzo Monte.

In lieu of flowers, donation in Frank name may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 http://www.stjude.orgor Schriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr, Tampa, FL 33607 http://www.lovetotherescue.org