Joseph E. Rolandelli

Joseph E. Rolandelli, age 87 of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 31, 2025.

Joe was born and raised in Newark – a place that always held a special place in his heart. From a young age Joe had an entrepreneurial mind that his mentors in life encouraged. Coming from a family of blue-collar workers, they recognized his aptitude for business and pushed him to pave a new path for himself. His uncle John was one of the most instrumental in that decision; when Joe would ask for a screwdriver, John would instead hand him a pencil and explain that was what he really needed to learn to use. His entrepreneurial spirit started with a paper route before he turned 10 years old and turned into an egg route shortly after. He was a true self-made man. Starting from humble beginnings, he worked his way up to senior vice president and comptroller of Midlantic/PNC Bank.

One summer day Joseph met his wife Catherine at the beach in Manasquan. He was just minding his own business when a beautiful woman named Catherine started kicking sand on him. His response was simply, “Go away” and their playfully combative relationship began. The two started dating and after falling in love Joe decided he wanted to propose. He convinced Catherine to go with him after he got off work to look at engagement rings, but with her eager anticipation of the trip he decided to play a little trick on her. He told her he was running late at work and would come pick her up as soon as he could. Catherine, stressing that they would not make it to the Jeweler in time exclaimed to him, “By the time we get there, the store will be closed!” Joe’s carefully plotted scheme was timed perfectly as the jewelry store closed and Joe nonchalantly pulled over into a romantic setting in Branch Brook Park to surprise Catherine with the ring that he had the whole time. Cathy went from punching Joe to kissing him, and on Saturday, August 18, 1962, the couple were married at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Nutley with Joe’s cousin Bishop Mestice officiating the wedding ceremony. They were blessed with a loving marriage of 56 years until Catherine’s passing in 2019.

After their wedding, Joe and Cathy moved into their first home together – a four-room apartment in a multi-family home on Woodside Avenue in Newark. They created many happy memories there surrounded by extended family as the whole Rolandelli clan lived together in three multi-family homes on the same block. They spent the next 15 years at that home and during that time, were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Karen and Debra, before Cathy convinced Joe to leave the “old neighborhood” and build a new home in Wayne in 1978. Even after moving to Wayne, the apartments in Newark held a special place in Joe’s heart and he never parted ways with the three buildings. He even made regular trips back to maintain them over the years.

Joseph and Cathy had the privilege of traveling extensively through Europe with family and friends, especially Joe’s best friend Victor. Joe and Cathy returned to Italy many times through the years with Joe holding a particular fondness for being there and connecting with his Italian heritage. Joe was also well known for his love of cruises. He went on cruises with Cathy, his kids and grandkids. He was a frugal man but when it came to exploring the world and experiencing all it had to offer, he was incredibly generous to those around him. They share treasured memories of annual cruises with the whole family, including their grandchildren to the Caribbean, Alaska, and a Disney cruise too. Joe’s grandchildren will recall that some of their favorite memories are of the twelve years at the annual Rolandelli & Buttitta family vacation home in Lavallette, NJ nicknamed the “Big Brown House”.

Joe will be remembered as strict and tough but generous and loving. He cared deeply for those around him and always wanted what was best for you. He was a maverick with a zest for life that was rivaled only by his loving wife Cathy. What made Joe tick was his love for making deals and making money. He was clever and persistent, never taking no for an answer. Joseph was the embodiment of the expression, “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.” A great example of this was Joe’s weekly meetings with his grandkids to go over their stock portfolios that he helped them establish. You didn’t show up to that meeting without having done your “homework”. He insisted on passing his success down to his kids and his grandkids in the form of education and experience. If you showed the initiative, he would provide you with the best opportunities in life. He was so proud to be able to put his kids and grandkids into elite schools throughout their entire education, and even more proud of the success they achieved from their hard work and heeding his advice.

Joseph can be described as driven, tenacious, determined, stubborn and loyal. He was a great storyteller and was fortunate to remain sharp even in old age. He never stopped “wheeling and dealing” making deals right up until his passing. The famous sayings of Joe Rolandelli will be dearly missed by all. Joe will be missed most for his mentorship and love. He was the man you turned to when you found yourself in a bind; despite his tough demeanor he was always there for you when you needed him. He truly wanted the best for those he cared about and went out of his way to help (of course, he also never failed to make sure you remembered that help). Joe reveled in his role as patriarch of his family and was proud to leave a legacy for future generations. His leadership and guidance will be greatly missed.