Robert Trongone

Robert Trongone, age 79, a forty-five year resident of Wayne, passed in the comfort of his home on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.

He was born in Paterson and raised in Elmwood Park having graduated from East Paterson Memorial High School with the Class of 1960 where he played football. He continued his education at the Newark College of Engineering where he received his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering with the Class of 1964 where he was a founding member of the Theta Chi fraternity.  He also received his Masters Degree in Management Science from Stevens Institute of Technology

Robert’s working history include being an Industrial Engineer for the General Motors Corporation in Clark for about twenty years and later was an Industrial Engineer for the Revlon Corporation in Irvington for about twenty years before retiring.

Robert and his future wife Gloria met while in high school and setup on a double-blind date. Robert went to a dance at the East Paterson High School (now Elmwood Park) with Gloria and they truly hit it off. They were high school sweethearts, went to the prom together, and eventually married on June 27, 1964 at St. Leo’s Church in East Paterson, and they honeymooned to Washington, D.C. They settled in Wallington briefly before moving to Clifton and then to Wayne in 1976. Their home in Wayne, with a pool, became the go-to place for any and all family get-togethers.  Robert will tell you Gloria was the “perfect” wife and if he had it all to do over again, he wouldn’t change anything. They enjoyed a loving and devoted marriage of fifty-three years until Gloria’s passing on July 12, 2017. She was truly the love of his life and he missed her dearly.

Robert was devoted to his Catholic faith and was a long-time parishioner of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Wayne. He will be lovingly remembered as a “perfect gentleman.” He was reserved, enjoyed hosting any and all family parties at his home in Wayne and loved to golf.  His prowess in the kitchen, regarding all kinds of Italian specialties, was legendary.  His children’s friends would often ask “is your dad cooking tonight?”  Most of all Robert will be remembered as the loving and devoted husband, father, and very proud grandfather.

He was the loving husband of the late Gloria (nee Pelka) Trongone (d.2017); devoted father of Beth Ann Russo and her husband Frank and Robert Trongone, Jr.; he was the cherished grandfather of Josephine Russo and Frankie Russo; he was the loved brother of Carmen Trongone and his wife Wendy. Hewill also be dearly missed by many cousins, nieces and nephews and great friends.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be greatly appreciated.