Salvatore J. Curreri

Salvatore J. Curreri, age 98 of Harmony Township and formerly of Pompton Lakes and Wayne, passed away on Sunday, September 29, 2019.

Sal was born in New York City, the oldest of Michael and Fannie Curreri’s four children. During his senior year in public high school, he spent half of each school day in the Fourteenth Ward Industrial School where he learned the trade of bookbinding and gold leaf stamping. After graduating in 1937, Sal went right to work in the bookbinding industry. He worked for several years before being drafted in 1942 into the United States Army where he served during World War II in the Philippines on a mortar crew. He remained in the Army until 1945, returning to civilian life as an honorable recipient of the American Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Philippines Liberation Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Medal.

One night shortly after completing military service, Sal attended a local dance for returning servicemen. It took place so soon after his return that he had not even had the chance to purchase civilian clothing, so he went to the dance in his military uniform. While there, he met a young lady named Mae Miragliotta who decided to go to the dance that same evening with her girlfriends. Sal and Mae soon fell in love and, after a period of courtship, they married on Sunday, April 30, 1950 at St. Bernadette’s Church in New York City. This was followed by a one month honeymoon across the country in Sal’s 1949 black Pontiac with red pinstripes.

Sal and Mae lived in New York City for one year while waiting for their new home to be built in Ney Hyde Park Long Island. Living there for several years in New Hyde Park, Sal and Mae and their son Peter joined his siblings who all moved across the river to Wayne, New Jersey. Accommodations were made in that home so that Sal’s parents could also live with them. During their time in Wayne, Mae sadly passed away in 1973 and Sal ultimately moved to Pompton Lakes in 1982, remaining there until 2010 when he joined his son Peter and wife Theresa in Harmony Township.  

Throughout Sal’s entire working years, from age nineteen to age seventy-eight, he always worked in the bookbinding industry. As the industry changed and machinery was utilized more and more, Sal learned to run and service the machines, always mastering the technology as it evolved. Over the course of those many years he worked for various companies, most recently for Liberty Travel in Denville. He loved his trade and found it hard to ultimately walk away. Consequently, he found himself retiring several times before he truly retired.

Sal was a man of many interests so idle time was never something he struggled with. He loved to go camping and once he planned a cross-country camping trip with Mae and their son Peter. Knowing that Mae would not love the idea of such an adventure, he wisely chose to wait until the night before they were leaving to let her know. Consequently the whole family had a wonderful time taking this trip across our country and back. Sal continued to enjoy camping and did so as late as this past Labor Day with Peter and Theresa.

Although there was no chance of him ever winning a masters, Sal loved to play golf at the Passaic County Golf Course and, from the time he was a young man, he always enjoyed going dancing with his wife Mae and in later years with his longtime companion Marion.

Proud of his Army service, Sal joined the Pompton Lakes Elks Lodge #1895 where he enjoyed participating in philanthropic endeavors and the camaraderie of his fellow veterans. For his volunteer efforts, Sal was the recipient of awards for dedicated outstanding service to veterans. After returning to civilian life, Sal took advantage of the training offered under the G.I. bill, choosing to learn watch repair. He used this training by starting his own business which he called Curry Watch Service.

Blessed with long life, Sal will nevertheless be dearly missed by his family whom he loved so very much. They will miss his earthly wisdom, his wise philosophical insight and his great ability to tell jokes and make them laugh.

Sal was the beloved husband of Mae (nee Miragliotta), blessed in marriage for twenty two-years until her passing in 1973. He was the loving father of Peter and wife Theresa Curreri of Harmony Township, NJ; cherished grandfather of Jason and wife Kimberly Curreri, Matthew and wife Theresa Curreri, and Joseph Curreri; and dear uncle of numerous nieces and nephews; Sal was also predeceased by his three siblings: Rose Romeo (2019), Vincent Curreri (2016), and Charles Curreri (2003); and his dear longtime companion Marion Carr.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Sal’s name are asked to consider Pompton Lakes Elks Lodge #1895, 1 Perrin Avenue, Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442.