Joseph "Joe" Colavita

Joseph “Joe” Colavita, age 85, a fifty-eight-year resident of Wayne, passed Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

He was born to Benjamin and Anna Colavita (nee Mikucka) in the Sandy Hill section of Paterson where the family eventually settled in the Riverside section of the city.  Joe attended Eastside High School showing an interest in art and music.  After high school Joseph briefly served in the US Army Reserves before being discharged on February 28, 1965.  Joe loved to dance and even appeared on the television show American Bandstand a couple of times.

Joe worked as a photo engraver in Paterson. Through the years he has worked at the Nabisco Factory in Fair Lawn, as a truck driver for Interstate Systems and Maislan Trucking both in Carlstadt and was a member of the Teamsters Union Local 560 before retiring in 2000.  Joe and his truck even made a cameo in the 1978 film, An Unmarried Woman.  

Joe met the love of his life Angela DeVito when both were at the wedding of mutual friends in 1961.  They fell in love and married on October 1, 1966 at Saint Andrew’s Church in Clifton.  Joe and Angela honeymooned at Montego Bay, Jamaica and in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  They had a loving and caring marriage that was blessed with three children, five grandchildren and nine cats.

Joe is a man with a heart as big as his love for his family.  Generous and family-oriented, he cherished every moment spent with his loved ones, especially the kids who brought endless joy to his life.  Joe’s sociable nature mirrors the vibrant spirit of the New York Giants, and he could engage effortlessly with others spreading positivity wherever he went.  In his downtime, Joe found solace in nature, and often would watch the National Geographic channel on television.  He loved cars and also enjoyed being an animal shelter volunteer as he always had a deep love for animals. His humorous personality lit up any room, and he was always ready to bring a smile to people’s faces and brighten their day with his laughter.  Joe’s commitment to making others happy is a testament to his kind and compassionate soul.  

Joe was the loving husband of fifty-eight years to Angela (DeVito) Colavita; he was the devoted father of Michael (Stephanie) Colavita of Caldwell, NJ, Christine Hawn (Thomas) of Falls Church, VA, and Melissa (Michael) Escudero of Tega Cay, SC; he was the cherished grandfather of Ethan Hawn, Peter Escudero, Sophia Escudero, Marie Colavita and Caitlyn Colavita. He was the brother of Barbara Donohue of Doylestown, PA, and Marlene DeGennaro of AZ and was an uncle to a host of nieces and nephews.  Joe was predeceased by his parents Benjamin and Anna and brothers-in-laws Henry DeVito, Jr. and Thomas Donohue.

In lieu of flowers please honor Joe’s dedication to animals at https://njshelter.org/donate-form-new/ Mt Pleasant Animal Shelter, 194 NJ-10, East Hanover, NJ 07937. When donating please look for the “Additional Information - Acknowledgment Details” and put “In Memory of Joe Colavita” in the Acknowledgement Details box so the family can be properly notified of your gift.