Lawrence “Larry” Scarmazzo

Lawrence Scarmazzo “Larry”, age 88, of Newfoundland, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, with loving family by his side.

Larry was born in Paterson, the son of Charles and Alice (nee Wanamaker) Scarmazzo. Larry spent his childhood years in Paterson, NJ and Greenwich Village, NY.  He attended high school in New Jersey at Central High in Paterson.

Larry’s first job was with Manhattan Shirt Company, but he wanted to serve his country.  In 1951 he enlisted in the United States Navy and during his service he was stationed in Trinidad where the Naval Air Force was responsible for protecting the Panama Canal. In 1955 he was honorably discharged and awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Navy Good Conduct Medal.

After military service Larry took a job with Singer Kearfott Corporation as a draftsman.  He enjoyed working for this same company during his entire thirty-five year career until retirement in 1993.

In 1961 Larry married Gloria (Seminerio) Scarmazzo and they were blessed with two daughters – Sandra and Patricia.  After his marriage ended, he met a lovely woman named Rosemary Wilk Ehrhart.  While dating they attended many dances.  Even with his artificial leg, Larry was a wonderful dancer.  Their favorites were the Big Band sound, especially “In the Mood” and “String of Pearls”.  Over time, Larry and Rosemary fell in love which lead to marriage on August 15, 1987 at Christ Episcopal Church in Pompton Lakes. They eventually moved to their current residence in Newfoundland.

Larry was a very warm, engaging man who loved staying in touch with friends and was always in search of a good time.  He and Rosemary frequently entertained family and friends having parties and barbeques at their home.

Larry loved the guitar.  His cousin taught him to play and eventually he learned to play a song called “Lady of Spain”.  Baseball was his favorite sport and he played on a men’s Sunday softball league where he was the designated pitcher.  Because he had an artificial leg, when it was his turn to hit a teammate would always run for him.  During this time, he also coached a women’s softball league.  He was a huge fan of the New York Yankees and was always up on the current the game schedule and knew all the player’s names better than he knew his family’s names.

Throughout his life, Larry’s strong faith in God led him through the good times and the bad. He and Rosemary were faithful parishioners of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Pompton Lakes.  Larry never missed saying Grace before meals even when eating out.

Larry loved dogs and, over the course of his life, he had many of them to love. His current companion was a loving pooch named Mia. She was always with him. When he sat in the kitchen, Mia was on his lap and even at the time of his passing she was right there by his side on the bed.

Larry was the beloved husband of Rosemary Wilk Ehrhart Scarmazzo, blest in marriage for 32 years. He was the loving father of:  Sandra and husband Jack Rippey of Oak Ridge, Patricia and husband Lester Reiche of Highland Lakes, John and wife Theresa Ehrhart of Port Orange, FL, Suzanne and husband Carlos Segarra of Roswell, GA, and Michael and wife Colleen Ehrhart of Port Orange, FL; adored grandfather of: Daniel Rippey, Sean Reiche, Kristine and husband Lance Briley, and John Ehrhart and companion Whitney Sanders; cherished great-grandfather of Aaden, Adryanna, and Kenzie; brother of Joan and husband William Handling of Sparks, NV, Charles and wife Gerd Scarmazzo of Stow Creek, NJ, the late Ronald Scarmazzo and the late Paul Scarmazzo survived by wife Erika of Butler, NJ; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to St. Mary’s Church, Annual Fund, 17 Pompton Avenue, Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442, would be appreciated.