Harold Winters

Harold T. Winters, Age 87, of Wayne, passed away on Sunday, April 4, 2021.

The youngest of James and Julia Winters six children, Harold was born and raised in Paterson. He attended high school at Passaic County Technical Institute when it was located in Paterson and he graduated with the Class of 1953.

Already when Harold was still in high school, he started working part-time for the Continental Can Company, also located in Paterson. Utilizing his high school education, after graduation, he continued to work for Continental Can as an industrial electrician.

For Harold high school gave him more than a valuable education. It was there that he met the girl he would someday marry. Her name was Patricia Madden. Harold and Pat were part of a group of friends who liked to hang out at the Madison Diner in Paterson. As time progressed they realized their friendship was truly special – so special in fact, that they found themselves wanting to spend the rest of their lives together. On Saturday, June 18, 1955, a beautiful summer day, their desire became reality when Harold and Patricia invited family and friends to witness their pledges of love and devotion to one another and God, at St. Agnus Church in Paterson. After the wedding ceremony, that enjoyed a great celebration before boarding a bus for a honeymoon in Florida. A week later, they flew home via prop jet. Harold was just 21 at the time and Pat just 18.

For a brief time, the newlyweds lived with Harold’s parents but they soon bought their own three family home at 48 Doremus Street in Paterson. Harold completely renovated that house and, just when it was time to move in, Harold was drafted into the U.S. Army. Forced to leave his wife who was now seven-and-a-half months pregnant, Harold, headed for Germany where he proudly served American interests from 1956 to 1958. Upon his return to civilian life, He continued service in the U.S. Airforce Reserves until 1962. His homecoming was glorious in that he was reunited with his family including his new son Thom who was born while he was gone. He also returned to his job at Continental Can and soon after, he and Pat welcomed their second son which they named Dean. Harold and Pat moved to 711 Preakness Avenue in Totowa and then, in 1984, they moved to Wayne where Harold had been living to the present.

Harold remained with Continental Can Company, even beyond its closing in the 1970’s when he would come in to help with electrical demolition. During this period in his life, he also returned to school in pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in Education at Montclair State University. Upon earning his degree he continued working at Continental Can by day and he taught at Passaic County Technical School in Wayne at night. He eventually landed a full-time teaching position in industrial arts and special education at Morris County Vocational Technical School. By the time his long and fruitful career ended in 1999, he was working for Bergen Technical High School in Teterboro. He used his knowledge and experience to give students with special needs the tools to work and to have a positive self-image by preparing them for jobs in building and grounds maintenance and getting them placed in jobs with various companies.  

Harold was a devoted husband and father and an adored grandfather. When his sons Thom and Dean were young boys, Harold got involved with the Boy Scouts of America and the Cub Scouts as a committeeman. He volunteered his time and expertise for many years and enjoyed participating with his sons. Dean went on to become an Eagle Scout while Thom did things his own way. Even when the boys were grown out of the program, Harold continued to serve for a time. Harold was so excited to become a grandfather! He and Pat enjoyed attending all their grandchildren’s sporting events, plays, and recitals, and taking them on trips to Florida. One thing that all his grandchildren knew about “Grandpa” was that he loved his candy. Some people make daily stops at the bar but Harold made daily stops at the A&P store in Wayne where he’d pick up his daily fix of candy – gum drops, dots, Hershey Kisses and any other confectionary delight you can imagine. All his grandchildren knew that Grandpa’s candy storage house was between the front seats of his work van. You can bet they visited frequently. What grandchild wouldn’t?

Harold was also devoted to his faith in God. For many years, while living in Totowa, he was a faithful parishioner at St. Gerard’s Church in nearby Paterson. When he moved to Wayne, he became a regular parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley Church. Pat was Lutheran and attended St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Wayne. When St. Timothy Church was planning their memorial garden, Harold was right there to volunteer his advice and to roll up his sleeves to see the garden come to fruition.

Harold could fix or build anything you could think of. One thing that he loved to do was fix things in his own house. When his boys got their own homes, they did all the repairs and maintenance and renovations themselves. And when all their own houses were up to snuff, they began buying houses, fixing them up, and flipping them. Harold was a doer, and he truly loved his work, both in and out of the classroom. When they both were retired from full-time work, Harold and Pat took to traveling the world. They covered a lot a territory in this great big world, including trips to Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Hawaii, England, Ireland, Scotland and Whales, and numerous ocean cruises. Back at home, he enjoyed making all kinds of things out of wood which he would sell at flea markets.

For the last ten years, Harold developed dementia. Blessed by a loving wife and children, he was in good hands. This past Sunday, which just happened to be Easter Sunday, the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of their Savior Jesus Christ from the dead, Harold was rescued from his dementia as God called him home to his new life in glory. His family, friends, and former students will always have the fondest of memories of a quiet, easy-going, likeable man who blessed their lives and, sharing his faith in the Savior, they look forward to the day when they will all be reunited.  

Harold was the beloved husband of Patricia (Madden), blest in a loving and devoted marriage for 65 years. He was the loving father of Thom Winters and his companion Sherry Tumminello of Wayne, and Dean and wife JoAnn Winters of Wayne; adored grandfather of: Deanna Marie and husband Michael Sanacore, Cody Winters, and Garrett Winters; cherished great-G-Pa of: Adalynn and Elijah; dear uncle of numerous nieces and nephews; and dear brother-in-law of Anthony Piscitelli of Paterson. Harold was predeceased by all of his sisters and brothers including: Edna Piscitelli, Ruth Walters, and Donald, James, and Eugene Winters.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Harold’s name are asked to consider St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Memorial Garden Fund, 395 Valley Road, Wayne, NJ 07470.