Ralph “Irv” Vigorito

Ralph Vigorito, age 85, of Totowa, NJ, passed away on Thursday, August 24, 2023, with the comfort of his family by his side. He was affectionately known as “Irv” to many.

Ralph was born to Ben and Jean (née Volpe) Vigorito, in Paterson, NJ, on March 6, 1938. He graduated in 1956 from Central High School, where he quarterbacked the varsity football team and played shortstop for the varsity baseball team. He attended the New York Military Academy and received a scholarship to continue his football career and education at the University of South Carolina before a stint playing football professionally for the New York Titans.

In the early 1960s, Ralph settled in Reno, NV, where he worked as a pit boss at the Cal-Neva Casino. The Lake Tahoe area was among his favorite places in the world. A few years later, he moved back to New Jersey, where he worked for Allentown Caging in Allentown and Scandia Packaging in Clifton. He also enjoyed a part-time gig in the 1970s as bartender and manager of the Towpath Bar in West Paterson. He had a warm, cheerful personality and made friends everywhere he went.

Ralph loved golf and was a regular at the Passaic County Golf Course, among the many courses in the area he frequently played. He achieved his first hole-in-one at the Palm Beach Gardens Golf Club using a six iron at 166 yards on hole 15. He was honored to have an annual family and friends golf outing in his name: the “Irv Golf Tournament,” or “IGT” for short. A golf destination is chosen each year, usually in Florida, and Irv and his family and friends would all hack their way through the course, laughing and making great memories along the way. Irv proudly won the tournament several times (there’s even a small chance he didn’t cheat). He also sincerely enjoyed leisure travel, almost always to a casino destination, visiting Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and many Caribbean islands over the years, often with his cousin Vince and long-time friend Paul and their wives. Roulette was his favorite casino game.

During the 1970s, Ralph became involved in coaching Wayne PAL and DePaul Catholic High School football. He diligently coached his son, Tommy, developing him into an exceptional running back and wide receiver. Ralph was incredibly proud to see Tommy go on from DePaul to play for the University of Virginia for four years before being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1981. He was resolute in ensuring his attendance at every game of Tommy’s entire football career.

Ralph’s first marriage was to Dorothy (née Miller), with whom he was blessed with four wonderful children. Ralph would later marry Sandy (née Lowry), enjoying twenty-eight years of marriage before her passing in 2010. A few years after Sandy’s passing, Ralph met Terry DiGregorio of Wayne while waiting to retrieve their respective grandchildren from James Fallon Elementary School. They eventually were encouraged to go on a date, and an endearing relationship followed. They were together for eleven years; Terry will miss him dearly.

Ralph is survived by his four children: Ralph and his wife Debbie Vigorito of Lincoln Park, NJ; Tommy and his wife Natalie Vigorito of Wayne, NJ; Darcy Nash of Pembroke Pines, FL; and Patricia and her husband Matthew Babich of Wayne, NJ. He’s also survived by nine beloved grandchildren: Justin and his wife Becka Vigorito, Michael Vigorito, Brandon Vigorito and his fiancé Molly Tague, Ryan Nash, Kelly Nash, Matthew Babich, Shawn Babich, Brianna Vigorito, and Rachel Babich; and one beloved great-grandson, Dominick Vigorito. Ralph was a devoted and loving grandfather and great-grandfather to each, never missing a dance recital or sporting event. Ralph was predeceased by his daughter-in-law Dianne Vigorito in 2015.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis at www.themiamiproject.org (http://www.themiamiproject.org/) or 1095 NW 14th Terrace, Lois Pope LIFE Center, Miami FL, 33136.