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February 1, 2018
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 from 4-7 PM. A funeral service will be held at 7 PM on Tuesday at the funeral home. The family suggests donations in lieu of flowers to The Arc of Essex County, Livingston, NJ (ArcEssex.org).
John Nunzio, age 75 of Bloomingdale, died on Thursday, February 1, 2018. Born with developmental disabilities, the doctors informed his parents that John would never walk, read, or enjoy a productive life. John proved them all wrong.
As an infant, growing up in Nutley, John often shared a playpen with his cousin, Barbara (nee Lanno). John followed her lead and learned to pull himself up and crawl. His aunt Clara devoted herself to teaching John how to walk, and before long, he was walking. His mother, who was an English teacher in the Newark school system, worked tirelessly to teach him how to read. She was successful, and John became an accomplished reader.
John completed elementary school in Nutley and he was an altar boy at Holy Family Church as well. He later attended St. Coletta’s School in Massachusetts before going to the Avalon School in the Berkshire region of Massachusetts. He learned his way around a restaurant kitchen there, helping in various ways as a part time employee. As his skills improved, he gained a full time job working in the kitchen at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He ultimately enjoyed a thirty year career at the hospital, retiring in 2003. John’s life was a series of accomplishments that defied all the odds.
Since 2006, John had been living at The Chelsea in Montville and the Health Center at Bloomingdale. He participated in activities such as Bible Study and loved playing Bingo. Despite his adversity, he was bright and his memory was sharp. At The Chelsea, John sort of ruined “trivia night” for many of the residents because he would shout out the answers before anyone else, and he was much the same while watching “Jeopardy” on TV.
John’s best character attribute was perhaps his attitude. He had a very ‘easy going’ disposition that enabled him to take life’s challenges in stride. Everything was easy with him and when more challenges came his way, he accepted them and continued on each and every day. Undoubtedly, John could have taught many of us about accepting adversity, and being responsible for our own happiness.
John is survived by his brother Charles Nunzio and his partner Barbara Nolan of Lincoln Park, his dear cousins; Barbara and Ronald Benucci, Ralph and Joan Milano, Anthony and Joyce Milano, Nancy and Dave Morgan, Marie and Ken Duane, Lisa Venezia, Michelle and Peter Moschello, Nick Vitiello and Jeff Kilmer, Lauren Vitiello and Mary Apikos, Linda Pelissier, Lea Del Pomo and Wayne Weeks, Diane (Del Pomo) Williams, Gail Dougherty, Tova Carol Vitiello, and an extended family that includes many dear friends.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 from 4-7 PM. A funeral service will be held at 7 PM on Tuesday at the funeral home. The family suggests donations in lieu of flowers to The Arc of Essex County, Livingston, NJ (ArcEssex.org).
February 1, 2018
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 from 4-7 PM. A funeral service will be held at 7 PM on Tuesday at the funeral home. The family suggests donations in lieu of flowers to The Arc of Essex County, Livingston, NJ (ArcEssex.org).
John Nunzio, age 75 of Bloomingdale, died on Thursday, February 1, 2018. Born with developmental disabilities, the doctors informed his parents that John would never walk, read, or enjoy a productive life. John proved them all wrong.
As an infant, growing up in Nutley, John often shared a playpen with his cousin, Barbara (nee Lanno). John followed her lead and learned to pull himself up and crawl. His aunt Clara devoted herself to teaching John how to walk, and before long, he was walking. His mother, who was an English teacher in the Newark school system, worked tirelessly to teach him how to read. She was successful, and John became an accomplished reader.
John completed elementary school in Nutley and he was an altar boy at Holy Family Church as well. He later attended St. Coletta’s School in Massachusetts before going to the Avalon School in the Berkshire region of Massachusetts. He learned his way around a restaurant kitchen there, helping in various ways as a part time employee. As his skills improved, he gained a full time job working in the kitchen at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He ultimately enjoyed a thirty year career at the hospital, retiring in 2003. John’s life was a series of accomplishments that defied all the odds.
Since 2006, John had been living at The Chelsea in Montville and the Health Center at Bloomingdale. He participated in activities such as Bible Study and loved playing Bingo. Despite his adversity, he was bright and his memory was sharp. At The Chelsea, John sort of ruined “trivia night” for many of the residents because he would shout out the answers before anyone else, and he was much the same while watching “Jeopardy” on TV.
John’s best character attribute was perhaps his attitude. He had a very ‘easy going’ disposition that enabled him to take life’s challenges in stride. Everything was easy with him and when more challenges came his way, he accepted them and continued on each and every day. Undoubtedly, John could have taught many of us about accepting adversity, and being responsible for our own happiness.
John is survived by his brother Charles Nunzio and his partner Barbara Nolan of Lincoln Park, his dear cousins; Barbara and Ronald Benucci, Ralph and Joan Milano, Anthony and Joyce Milano, Nancy and Dave Morgan, Marie and Ken Duane, Lisa Venezia, Michelle and Peter Moschello, Nick Vitiello and Jeff Kilmer, Lauren Vitiello and Mary Apikos, Linda Pelissier, Lea Del Pomo and Wayne Weeks, Diane (Del Pomo) Williams, Gail Dougherty, Tova Carol Vitiello, and an extended family that includes many dear friends.
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