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May 9, 2026
Services
Friends and family are invited to join in celebrating Gary’s life during a Memorial Visitation on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, New Jersey 07470. A Prayer Service will immediately follow at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home.
Angelo G. Potenza, lovingly known as “Gary,” age 72, of the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Born in Passaic, Gary was the beloved son of the late Joseph and Angelina (Lapadura) Potenza. He was raised in Garfield and graduated from Garfield High School with the Class of 1971. During his high school years, Gary proudly played second base for the Garfield Boilermakers.
Following graduation, Gary began what would become a lifelong career in the commercial printing industry. Starting at just eighteen years old, he devoted 49 years to the trade before retiring in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Over the course of his career, Gary worked for several respected printing companies, including Word Press in Paterson, Sandy Alexander in Clifton, L.P. Thebault, later known as EarthColor in Parsippany, and Unimac Graphics in Carlstadt.
Gary was the dearly loved husband of Michele (Dougherty) Potenza. The couple was introduced through mutual friends — Tommy, Gary’s coworker, and Sue, Michele’s best friend. Their first date was at the movies to see The Deer Hunter, which Michele fondly recalled as “a disgusting movie.” Thankfully, it was not a deal breaker. After the movie, they shared a bar pie at Charlie Blood’s in Garfield, and what began as a simple evening together soon blossomed into a loving relationship and a shared dream of marriage.
A true gentleman, Gary first asked Michele’s parents for permission before proposing. Michele’s father gladly gave his blessing, with one condition: Michele’s two beloved dogs — Duke, her Afghan Hound, and Barney, her Shih Tzu — had to come as part of the package. With their approval secured, Gary proposed in September of 1979, and Michele enthusiastically said “Yes!”
Gary and Michele were married on Saturday, June 14, 1980, at St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church in Clifton. It was a beautiful sunny day, followed by a reception at the Inwood Manor in Teaneck. The newlyweds then departed for a honeymoon in the Bahamas.
Together, Gary and Michele built a beautiful life filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. Their first home was a second-floor apartment on Malcom Avenue in Garfield, where close friends lived downstairs, making for many happy and fun-filled times. They later purchased their first home on Iroquois Avenue in Lake Hiawatha, then moved to Zambrano Drive in West Paterson, before finally settling in 1996 into their present home in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne.
Gary’s mechanical talents were remarkable. He could fix virtually anything and even remodeled his kitchen and bathroom himself. He enjoyed playing card games and, when no one was available to join him, he happily challenged himself to a game of Solitaire. Two things were part of Gary’s daily routine: reading The Record newspaper from front to back and playing the lottery. If it was your birthday, chances were good that Gary would hand you a lottery ticket as part of your gift.
Sundays were reserved for watching sports on television. Gary especially loved football and baseball and remained a loyal fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Giants throughout his life.
Though a man of few words, Gary noticed everything around him and spoke thoughtfully and meaningfully. Above all else, he treasured his family, whom he considered the greatest blessing of his life. Nothing brought him more joy than spending quality time with his three adored grandchildren. He loved his family deeply and wholeheartedly.
Gary was the beloved husband of Michele (Dougherty) Potenza, with whom he shared nearly 46 wonderful years of marriage. He was the loving father of Danielle Lesser and her husband, Robert, of Newfoundland; the adored grandfather of Giavanna, Logan, and Jayce; the much-loved brother of Joseph Potenza and his wife, Kathy, of Lincoln Park, Richard Potenza of Garfield, Marlaine Janots of Lodi, and Peter Potenza and his wife, Veronica, of Garfield; and the dear uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Gary was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Angelina Potenza, and by his brother-in-law, Dominic Janots.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Gary’s name may be made to:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
Donations may also be made by mail or by calling 800-805-5856.
Please indicate that your gift is made in memory of Angelo “Gary” Potenza.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends and family are invited to join in celebrating Gary’s life during a Memorial Visitation on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, New Jersey 07470. A Prayer Service will immediately follow at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home.
May 9, 2026
Services
Friends and family are invited to join in celebrating Gary’s life during a Memorial Visitation on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, New Jersey 07470. A Prayer Service will immediately follow at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home.
Angelo G. Potenza, lovingly known as “Gary,” age 72, of the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Born in Passaic, Gary was the beloved son of the late Joseph and Angelina (Lapadura) Potenza. He was raised in Garfield and graduated from Garfield High School with the Class of 1971. During his high school years, Gary proudly played second base for the Garfield Boilermakers.
Following graduation, Gary began what would become a lifelong career in the commercial printing industry. Starting at just eighteen years old, he devoted 49 years to the trade before retiring in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Over the course of his career, Gary worked for several respected printing companies, including Word Press in Paterson, Sandy Alexander in Clifton, L.P. Thebault, later known as EarthColor in Parsippany, and Unimac Graphics in Carlstadt.
Gary was the dearly loved husband of Michele (Dougherty) Potenza. The couple was introduced through mutual friends — Tommy, Gary’s coworker, and Sue, Michele’s best friend. Their first date was at the movies to see The Deer Hunter, which Michele fondly recalled as “a disgusting movie.” Thankfully, it was not a deal breaker. After the movie, they shared a bar pie at Charlie Blood’s in Garfield, and what began as a simple evening together soon blossomed into a loving relationship and a shared dream of marriage.
A true gentleman, Gary first asked Michele’s parents for permission before proposing. Michele’s father gladly gave his blessing, with one condition: Michele’s two beloved dogs — Duke, her Afghan Hound, and Barney, her Shih Tzu — had to come as part of the package. With their approval secured, Gary proposed in September of 1979, and Michele enthusiastically said “Yes!”
Gary and Michele were married on Saturday, June 14, 1980, at St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church in Clifton. It was a beautiful sunny day, followed by a reception at the Inwood Manor in Teaneck. The newlyweds then departed for a honeymoon in the Bahamas.
Together, Gary and Michele built a beautiful life filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. Their first home was a second-floor apartment on Malcom Avenue in Garfield, where close friends lived downstairs, making for many happy and fun-filled times. They later purchased their first home on Iroquois Avenue in Lake Hiawatha, then moved to Zambrano Drive in West Paterson, before finally settling in 1996 into their present home in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne.
Gary’s mechanical talents were remarkable. He could fix virtually anything and even remodeled his kitchen and bathroom himself. He enjoyed playing card games and, when no one was available to join him, he happily challenged himself to a game of Solitaire. Two things were part of Gary’s daily routine: reading The Record newspaper from front to back and playing the lottery. If it was your birthday, chances were good that Gary would hand you a lottery ticket as part of your gift.
Sundays were reserved for watching sports on television. Gary especially loved football and baseball and remained a loyal fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Giants throughout his life.
Though a man of few words, Gary noticed everything around him and spoke thoughtfully and meaningfully. Above all else, he treasured his family, whom he considered the greatest blessing of his life. Nothing brought him more joy than spending quality time with his three adored grandchildren. He loved his family deeply and wholeheartedly.
Gary was the beloved husband of Michele (Dougherty) Potenza, with whom he shared nearly 46 wonderful years of marriage. He was the loving father of Danielle Lesser and her husband, Robert, of Newfoundland; the adored grandfather of Giavanna, Logan, and Jayce; the much-loved brother of Joseph Potenza and his wife, Kathy, of Lincoln Park, Richard Potenza of Garfield, Marlaine Janots of Lodi, and Peter Potenza and his wife, Veronica, of Garfield; and the dear uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Gary was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Angelina Potenza, and by his brother-in-law, Dominic Janots.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Gary’s name may be made to:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
Donations may also be made by mail or by calling 800-805-5856.
Please indicate that your gift is made in memory of Angelo “Gary” Potenza.
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