Gary P. Ragusa

Gary P. Ragusa, age 49, of Wayne, passed away at his home on Thursday, December 16, 2020, with loving family at his side at the time of his passing.

In 2015, Gary was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. While his family mourns his loss, they are grateful that his suffering is no more.

The oldest of Andrew and Kathleen Ragusa’s three children, Gary was born at Barnet Hospital in Paterson. His arrival into this world was a little early and since he only weighed two pounds at the time of his birth, his stay at the hospital was a bit longer than average.

As a child, Gary took a great interest in sports. He could always be found at the Wayne P.A.L. playing basketball and also baseball on the traveling team. His favorite sport of all though was hockey. Gary was already on skates when he was just three years old and he was playing street hockey by first grade. To make things even more interesting, Gary’s father Andy was a mechanic who worked on the cars of several professional players from the NHL New Jersey Devils. This relationship gave Gary the rare opportunity to attend almost every Devils home game. One time, they even got four tickets behind the goal for the all-star game. If this didn’t spark Gary’s interest in the sport enough, the fact that he got to meet a lot of those Devils players at their practices at the former Ice World in Totowa surely did. Street hockey games with neighborhood friends in front of his childhood home in Wayne were a regular pastime, and by the time he was eleven or twelve, he was regularly playing games on the ice at Ice World in Totowa and later at the Ice Vault in Wayne. Gary’s love of Hockey continued well into adulthood. He played for the Comets in a league that traveled all over – even to Canada. This continued until his ALS diagnosis. To those close to Gary, including his teammates, his nickname was “Goose” and various fundraisers under the name “Team Goose” have been organized to help pay for Gary’s ongoing medical expenses.

Upon graduation from Wayne Hills High School with the Class of 1990, Gary started full-time work as a floor manager for N.D. Industries in Oakland. From there he took a job with A&A Oil Company in Wayne doing oil tank environmental remediation. Most recently, he worked for ten years with the Township of Wayne Water Department until his health condition necessitated retirement in 2015.

Gary was the kind of guy who never stood still. Fastidious about everything, you could always find him in his yard making sure it looked pristine. He loved caring for his coy fish which found solitude in the beautiful pond that he made with his own two hands. His son Ryan and all his neighborhood friends loved the zip line that Gary erected in the yard for good times. His cars were always clean, including his classic 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint Convertible which he enjoyed taking on leisurely rides on dry sunny days. In the house, Gary considered it a hobby to be in the kitchen trying cooking up his favorites or trying out new healthy recipes.

Gary’s sons meant the world to him. He loved them so much and did his best to give them memorable childhoods. When they were young, the family took great vacations like cruises and weeks down the shore. Gary enjoyed watching his son, Ryan playing basketball. He enjoyed riding on ATV’s with them and taking them to the shooting range. He’d get right in there with them to play street hockey in front of the house, teaching little Gary how to skate on the pond, and he enjoyed coaching them at the Ice Vault in Wayne and also driving the Zamboni ice grooming machine on the ice rink. He was so proud of his son Ryan who graduated with honors from Passaic County Technical High School.

Gary will always be remembered for his friendly, outgoing nature. Whether it was coaching the kids at the Ice Vault or helping any of his neighbors in need, Gary was the caring kind of a soul you could always count on to be there in your time of need or to make your life a little easier. He will be dearly missed.  

Gary was the loving father of Gary P. Ragusa, Jr. and Ryan M. Ragusa, both of Boonton; much-loved son of Andrew and Kathleen (Becker) Ragusa of Denville; dearest brother of the late Dennis Ragusa (2017), Sister-in-law Tara Ragusa, his sister Crystal Ann and husband Thomas Loweth of Oakland; dear uncle of: Cameron Ragusa, Julianna Ragusa, Tommy Loweth, Jr., and Isabella Loweth; and his beloved girlfriend Chelsea Otte. He is also survived by his grandmother Shirley Remella and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

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In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Gary’s name are asked to consider:

ALS Association – Greater New York Chapter

42 Broadway, Suite 1724

New York, NY 10004

If sending a check, please click here for printable donation form and make your check payable to “ALS Association Greater New York Chapter”

If donating online, click here (als-ny.org)