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May 25, 2008
Services
Funeral services will be held Friday 1 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ.
Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Wednesday 7-9 PM and Thursday from 2-4, 7-9 PM, and at the funeral services on Friday at 1:00 PM.
Joseph Di Donato Sr. age 76 of Wayne died Sunday, May 25, 2008 at the Saint Joseph’s Wayne Hospital in the NJ Hospice Unit. His passing was quiet and peaceful while receiving the loving care of his family who were at his bedside.
Joe was born in Paterson N.J. and grew up there, attending Paterson Central High School where he developed his love of sports. He played football for Paterson Central High School as well as in many semi-pro club leagues where he also dedicated his time as head coach for the Dublin Colts and Paterson Panthers, semi-pro football teams. Joe was also an avid softball player and semi-pro boxer. In 1961, he moved to West Paterson with young wife, Joan and two young children, Joseph and Michele before settling in Wayne with his family in 1964.
Joe was a well-known and respected building contractor in the area for over 40 years, partnering with his brother Carlo in Di Donato Construction and later with his son, Joe. He also was a Real Estate Broker, and had an office in Riverdale, NJ and later in Haskell, NJ trading as Di Donato Associated. Later in his career, he became a Building Inspector for the city of Haledon before he took a position with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority where he was instrumental in setting up the Easy Pass system of toll collection. After his retirement from the NJ Turnpike Authority he engaged in part time construction consulting for the Passaic County Sheriff's Department.
He leaves his family with many fond memories of a loving husband, father, and grandfather. His son Joe recalls how his dad participated with him at numerous sporting events including Little League Baseball and his daughter remembers him as a guiding force in her life. Joe enjoyed taking day trips in the car with his wife Joan and children, and taking his family out to dinner on Sundays.
Joe served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the American Legion Post 174 in Wayne, the Wayne Elks Lodge 2181, the Free Masons Mountain View Lodge 154, the Scottish Rite and the Shiners.
Joe is perhaps best known for founding the Wayne Boys and Girls Club and his over 30-year tenure as a Councilman for Wayne Township where he proved his tremendous dedication to the citizens of Wayne in seeing that the town government was operated in the taxpayer’s best interests. He was a tireless advocate for the citizens of Wayne. His memberships in civic organizations and the activities he sponsored in town were numerous. To just mention a few he served eight terms as a Wayne Councilman in the second ward and president of the Wayne Council in 1982, 1991 and 1998. He was the driving force and a founding member of the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne where he was President for eight years and as a building contractor donated his time and resources to build their building free of charge. He served on the Edward Sisco Senior Citizens Board. He initiated the Wayne Senior Citizens Bus Transportation System by collecting funds from private sources to purchase buses and hire drivers. He was a Boy Scouts district director, coached PAL Football and Little League Baseball. He founded and coached the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne football program and to this day, the team is called the Panthers because of Joe’s affiliation with the Paterson Panthers.
Surviving are his loving wife of fifty-four years Joan (nee Kaminski) Di Donato; one son Joseph Di Donato Jr. and his wife Lisa of Wayne; one daughter Michele Di Donato of Montville; two cherished grandchildren Joseph Di Donato III and Victoria Lee Di Donato, one sister Carmella Harty and her husband Jim of Toms River.
Joe was predeceased by one sister Virginia Agnone and a brother Carlo Di Donato.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Joseph’s memory are asked to consider a donation to The Wayne Boys & Girls Club, 153 Garside Ave, Wayne NJ 07470.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Funeral services will be held Friday 1 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ.
Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Wednesday 7-9 PM and Thursday from 2-4, 7-9 PM, and at the funeral services on Friday at 1:00 PM.
May 25, 2008
Services
Funeral services will be held Friday 1 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ.
Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Wednesday 7-9 PM and Thursday from 2-4, 7-9 PM, and at the funeral services on Friday at 1:00 PM.
Joseph Di Donato Sr. age 76 of Wayne died Sunday, May 25, 2008 at the Saint Joseph’s Wayne Hospital in the NJ Hospice Unit. His passing was quiet and peaceful while receiving the loving care of his family who were at his bedside.
Joe was born in Paterson N.J. and grew up there, attending Paterson Central High School where he developed his love of sports. He played football for Paterson Central High School as well as in many semi-pro club leagues where he also dedicated his time as head coach for the Dublin Colts and Paterson Panthers, semi-pro football teams. Joe was also an avid softball player and semi-pro boxer. In 1961, he moved to West Paterson with young wife, Joan and two young children, Joseph and Michele before settling in Wayne with his family in 1964.
Joe was a well-known and respected building contractor in the area for over 40 years, partnering with his brother Carlo in Di Donato Construction and later with his son, Joe. He also was a Real Estate Broker, and had an office in Riverdale, NJ and later in Haskell, NJ trading as Di Donato Associated. Later in his career, he became a Building Inspector for the city of Haledon before he took a position with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority where he was instrumental in setting up the Easy Pass system of toll collection. After his retirement from the NJ Turnpike Authority he engaged in part time construction consulting for the Passaic County Sheriff's Department.
He leaves his family with many fond memories of a loving husband, father, and grandfather. His son Joe recalls how his dad participated with him at numerous sporting events including Little League Baseball and his daughter remembers him as a guiding force in her life. Joe enjoyed taking day trips in the car with his wife Joan and children, and taking his family out to dinner on Sundays.
Joe served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the American Legion Post 174 in Wayne, the Wayne Elks Lodge 2181, the Free Masons Mountain View Lodge 154, the Scottish Rite and the Shiners.
Joe is perhaps best known for founding the Wayne Boys and Girls Club and his over 30-year tenure as a Councilman for Wayne Township where he proved his tremendous dedication to the citizens of Wayne in seeing that the town government was operated in the taxpayer’s best interests. He was a tireless advocate for the citizens of Wayne. His memberships in civic organizations and the activities he sponsored in town were numerous. To just mention a few he served eight terms as a Wayne Councilman in the second ward and president of the Wayne Council in 1982, 1991 and 1998. He was the driving force and a founding member of the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne where he was President for eight years and as a building contractor donated his time and resources to build their building free of charge. He served on the Edward Sisco Senior Citizens Board. He initiated the Wayne Senior Citizens Bus Transportation System by collecting funds from private sources to purchase buses and hire drivers. He was a Boy Scouts district director, coached PAL Football and Little League Baseball. He founded and coached the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne football program and to this day, the team is called the Panthers because of Joe’s affiliation with the Paterson Panthers.
Surviving are his loving wife of fifty-four years Joan (nee Kaminski) Di Donato; one son Joseph Di Donato Jr. and his wife Lisa of Wayne; one daughter Michele Di Donato of Montville; two cherished grandchildren Joseph Di Donato III and Victoria Lee Di Donato, one sister Carmella Harty and her husband Jim of Toms River.
Joe was predeceased by one sister Virginia Agnone and a brother Carlo Di Donato.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Joseph’s memory are asked to consider a donation to The Wayne Boys & Girls Club, 153 Garside Ave, Wayne NJ 07470.
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