Gregory F. Velardi

Gregory “Hank” Velardi, age 89 of Wayne, died peacefully at his home on April 9, 2019.

Hank was born and raised along with his 3 brothers in Wayne, NJ. He was the 4th loving son of Frank and Fortunata Velardi and was born on August 23rd, 1929.

He attended Wayne Schools, and graduated the 8th Grade.

In 1944 he was awarded a “Certificate of Service” from the State Department of Agriculture for his work “on the farm front” aiding in the production and harvesting of food crops, thereby contributing directly toward the prosecution of the war.

He served his country as a private in the Army, based in Germany during the Korean conflict and was honorably discharged on January 23rd 1953.

Hank met his future wife Eleanor when she used to vacation in Wayne at her Grandmother’s summer bungalow out in the “country”.  While here one summer, she visited the Hi-Ho Club where she met Hank.

Hank and Eleanor were married on June 8, 1957 and settled into the home that Hank, his friends, and his brothers built on Dupont Terrace in Wayne where they raised their 2 boys, Frank and Gregory.

The pride and joy of his life were his 3 grandchildren Tim and Paul, and Robby.  He loved watching them grow up, spending time with them, and reveling in all their successes.  

Hank was a proud union carpenter serving with local unions 2 and 15 in Passaic and Bergen counties. He worked on many projects in and around the North Jersey Area.

Hank spent the last 13 years of his career as the carpenter foremen at Brendan Byrne (Meadowlands) Arena. While employed there, he was awarded a certificate of appreciation for removing a child whose neck was trapped by a turnstile at the arena.  Hank sawed off the arm of the turnstile as the child’s frantic mother was screaming wildly. In staying within his usually calm cool nature, he meticulously sawed away until the child was freed from the turnstile.

At the arena, it was the responsibility of the carpenters to manage the installation of the glass around the boards of the hockey rink.  All the glass is pre-cut, and stored behind the stands.  Many of the pieces are different sizes. One night while working the standby shift during a hockey game, a piece of glass broke, and needed to be replaced. Hank went out on the ice, saw what piece was broken, went back behind the stands grabbed the piece of “replacement“ glass and brought it out to the ice to be installed.  He tried to install the glass, but it just wouldn’t fit.  He shoved, pushed, pulled and twisted, but the glass just wouldn’t go in.  As you can imagine by now after having the game delayed about 30 minutes, the fans and players were getting restless. Of course the whole time he was trying to install the glass he was getting verbal assistance on how to install the glass from all the fans in the front row, that had never installed a piece of glass in their life.  Finally after wrestling with the wrong size piece of glass for 15 minutes, he realized that someone had placed the piece of glass he had in the wrong bin, and it was the wrong size.  Once he realized this, he went back in the shop and cut a new piece, just the right size. He brought it out, and installed it after about a 60 minute delay.  The fans were ecstatic, clapping and cheering after he completed the installation.

Hank and Eleanor were parishioners of Holy Cross church in Mountain View, for many years.

Hank was a 63 year Life Member of POL Fire Co. No. 2 having served as their Captain and Trustee.  He also served on numerous firehouse committees including the fair, new building, and old building committees.  He was a fixture at the front entrance table of the pancake breakfasts. He was also a life member of the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association, and the New Jersey State Exempt Firemen’s Association.”. In 2001 he was awarded the Wayne Counseling and Family Services Unsung Hero award along with 2 sons and brother Nat.  In 2008 Hank along with his brother Nat they were selected by the Wayne Elks to be honored as  “Firemen of the Year”.

Hank was also an avid sports fan and he enjoyed watching the Yankees, Giants, and Devils on TV.

Hank is survived by his devoted and beloved sons Frank and his wife Gillian of Wayne, NJ and  Gregory and his wife Laurie of Wayne NJ. He will also be missed by his three cherished grandsons Timothy, Paul, and Robert. Hank was predeceased by his loving wife of 58 years Eleanor (2015), three older brothers Natale (2002), Rocco (2003), and Carmen (2016).

The family is forever grateful, and would like to acknowledge and THANK Monika Shebalin, Hank’s loyal, faithful, loving, and dedicated caregiver. Her hard work and exhausting efforts over the last five years assisting both Eleanor and Hank with their numerous day to day activities was greatly appreciated.

Those wishing to make a donation in Gregory’s memory are asked to consider The New Jersey Firemen’s Home. Donations should be made payable to the “The New Jersey Firemen’s Home 565 Lathrop Avenue Boonton, NJ 07005”.