Joseph M. Baumann

Joseph M. Baumann, age 92, of Wayne, passed away peacefully, in the loving presence of his dear family, on Saturday, May 18, 2019.

Joe was born in Paterson, NJ and raised in the city’s Stoney Road section. He was educated at St. Bonaventure Grammar School and the Jersey Preparatory School of Jersey City. He also attended New York University.

Unlike today, when Joseph was growing up as a child, kids actually played outside. There were strong ties between families living together in close community and, for the most part, everybody knew their neighbors. One of Joe’s friends who lived a few blocks from his house was a young lady named Rosemarie Hennessey. As a young man, Joseph went off to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was stationed on the U.S.S. Tarawa aircraft carrier and, for his valiant sacrifice to his country, he received the Victory Medal and the American Medal. When he returned home, like Rosemarie, he too commuted to New York City where he had a job with the Home Insurance Company in Manhattan. Since Joe took a liking to Rosemarie, he made an offer to her mother to pick Rosemarie up every morning to give her a ride to the train station. From where they would park the car the two would take the train, then the ferry boat to get to the city. They soon settled into a nice relationship including a routine where, once exiting the boat, they would first attend daily mass at Our Lady of Victory Church located on the corner of William and Pine Street, then grab a cup of coffee together at a Chock full o’ Nuts coffee shop.

Rosemarie and Joe’s first formal date was to the Biltmore Hotel to listen and dance to the rich musical sounds of Russ Morgan and his orchestra. Over time, their friendship turned to love. Just being together put a smile on their face and seemed to make their steps a little lighter. Coming home from a barbeque one day, Joe asked Rosemarie if she’d like to spend the rest of her life with him. As he predicted and to his delight, she wholeheartedly said yes. Now Joe had to ask Rosemarie’s mom for permission to marry her daughter. Fortunately, that went well too. Rosemarie and Joe exchanged their vows before God, family and friends on Saturday, May 28, 1955 at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson. After a reception at the Brownstone Hall in Paterson, catered by the local police and firemen (this is the same Brownstone House that’s grown into a massive operation over the years), they hopped into Joe’s Grey and Blue 1950 Dodge Wayfarer and drove to Daytona Beach, FL, then took a Pan-American flight – a prop plane - to Nassau, Bahamas.

Life in those first years of marriage began where Joe and Rosemarie both grew up - in the Stoney Road section of Paterson. Soon the blessings of children came – first a son, then another son, then a third son, and finally……….yup – the fourth son! Rosemarie stayed home to raise the boys while Joe faithfully went off to work each day to provide for the roof over their head and three square meals a day. Through his forty-six year career in the insurance business, he served in many capacities with three major insurance companies in New York and New Jersey. Prior to retirement in 1992, Joe was an account executive with Alexander and Alexander, Inc. in New York. He loved his work as well as being a member of the New Jersey Insurance Fieldmen’s Association and the Mariner’s Club.

Throughout the first 38 years of their marriage, Joe and Rosemarie continue to reside in Paterson where Joe displayed a heart of service to the community in various capacities. From 1956 to 1962, he was a member of the Paterson Board of Education where he served as Vice President and President. As a long-time parishioner of St. Bonaventure Church, he was a member and president of the church’s Holy Name Society and, while his sons were growing up, he was very active with the Cub Scouts of St. Bonaventure Cub Pack #39 where he served as the Activity Chairman for a number of years.

Close to home, Joe and Rosemarie were both active in their bowling league at Wayne’s T-Bowl and also loved to swim, whether it be at the Wayne pool or at the Jersey shore in Lavallette.  Joe’s love for the ocean included lots of opportunities to go fishing, usually off of Ken’s Landing in Point Pleasant.

In retirement, Joe and Rosemarie would often go on bus trips to the PNC Arts Center. They would go there to catch a show, then have dinner in Point Pleasant. Like his wife Rosemarie, Joe was proud of his Irish heritage, so it should come as no surprise that they visited Ireland together a total of three times. They loved the scenery and overall landscape of the country as well as the delicious cultural traditions like tea and scones in the afternoon and a nice dinner. Joe and Rosemarie also enjoyed traveling to other destinations and consequently took trips throughout the United States and the Canadian Rockies as well as vacations to Bermuda with close friends. Retirement afforded more time for one of Joe’s other favorite activities – playing golf. He would get out to the Passaic County Golf Course by about 6:30 in the morning, two to three times a week. He loved playing early and getting home by 9:30.

Joseph was predeceased by his beloved wife Rosemarie (nee Hennessey) - blessed in marriage for 61 years until her passing in 2016. He is survived by his four loving sons: William and wife Sabrina Baumann of Toms River, Robert Baumann of Little Falls, Joseph and wife Cheryl Baumann of Rutherford, and Thomas and wife Vanessa Baumann of Montclair; ten adored grandchildren: Marybeth, Matthew, Michael, Katie, Stephen, David, Lauren, Morgan, Colleen, and Philip; two cherished great-grandchildren: Jackson and Blair; and two dear sisters: Cecilia Nocella of Totowa, and Dolores Bruning of Hamilton.

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In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association P.O. Box 417005 Boston, MA  02241-7005.