Jared Petruska

Jared A. Petruska, 34 of Wayne, died tragically on Thursday, February 27, 2020.  His untimely loss leaves a painful void for all who loved him.

Jared has been a lifelong resident of Wayne and graduated from Wayne Hills High School with the class of 2004. He was a member of the Wayne Hills Golf Team, winning the State Championship. He understood what ‘hard work’ was from his earliest years and has worked alongside his father at Atlas Paving for many years. Never one to sit on the sidelines, he always took charge and got things done. He was a natural leader and this showed most strongly when he became Crew Chief of the Atlas Paving #66 racing team. Jared loved dirt modified car racing and followed in his father’s footsteps. He led the #66 team to several victories, but he especially loved the camaraderie among all those in the racing community. Jared’s family is particularly grateful for the love and support the racing community has shown them in recent days.

Jared had two sides to his personality. If you knew him primarily through work or racing, then you knew the “stoic tough guy.”  His close friends and family also knew the softer, caring side of Jared. He had a HUGE heart and worried about everyone. He showed his caring through kind, selfless acts and he always felt good doing nice things for others. He felt it his responsibility to keep his loved ones safe and his wife recalls how he used to double-check that the doors were all locked and the alarm was set on their home each day when he left for work. He was truly a worry-wart. He also had a soft-spot for his dogs, and he currently has three. His favorite, a Weimaraner named Gatsby, who he often referred to as “my son,” was his trusty companion.

Jared met his wife Maria (nee Imbruglia) at GIANTS Stadium on December 1, 2007.  Maria was a cheerleader for Wayne Valley Football as they competed for the State Championship against Wayne Hills. Jared was there with his mother, Helen, who knew Maria from town. Helen introduced them to each other and they started dating. Jared got down on his knee, at their home, December 16, 2017 and proposed. They were married on May 3, 2019 at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne, followed by a beautiful reception at the Park Savoy in Florham Park. They honeymooned to Hawaii and Australia before settling into their home in Wayne. Sadly, they have not even celebrated their first anniversary yet, and Maria is expecting their first baby in just a few short months. Maria has decided to establish a memorial fund to honor Jared, for the benefit of their soon-to-be-born baby boy, and friends are asked to contribute in lieu of flowers.

Jared is survived by his beloved wife Maria of Wayne, by his parents; Michael and Helen Petruska of Wayne, two brothers; Michael of Pequannock and Eric and his wife Kenna of Pompton Lakes, his in-laws; Anthony and Annamaria Imbruglia of Wayne, sister-in-law Theresa Williams and her husband Kenny, brother-in-law; Anthony Imbruglia and his girlfriend Kristen Kaetzel, aunts and uncles; Stephen Geusic and his wife Lynn, Lori Ellicott and her husband Jack, Niki Lanza and her husband Tommy, and Frank Riccardi, nieces and nephews; Madelyn and Olivia Petruska, Anthonymichael Imbruglia, Kenny, Sophia, and Ava Williams, and cousins; Brittany and Jeff Bauer, Stephen Geusic, Jr., Ryan and Kristle Ellicott, Adam Ellicott, Danielle Lanza and Alex Lanza, as well as countless friends and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the benefit of Jared’s soon-to-be-born baby boy. Make donations payable to “Maria Petruska” c/o Vander May Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd., Wayne, NJ 07470.