Thomas Anthony Maggio, Sr. age 94 of Wayne, formerly of East Paterson, died peacefully on Thursday, December 27, 2012.

He was born and raised in East Paterson having graduated from Eastside High School with the Class of 1937. During his high school years Tom worked for the A&P Supermarket in East Paterson delivering groceries by wagon throughout the neighborhood. He met a pretty girl named Evelyn Bracco, through an introduction by friends. He eventually took her to the senior prom at the Meadowbrook Dance Club in Cedar Grove where Frank Sinatra – before he made it big - sang at the prom.

Soon after high school Tom enlisted in the US Army and served five tours with the 9th Infantry Division during WWII. Having served in the North African and European Theatres of the War and was twice privileged to meet General Patton. Tom was also a founding member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5084.  In 2001 Tom was honored with a certificate from the Consulate General of France in New York City thanking him for his part in the battles for the liberation of France.

After his service in the Army Tom and Evelyn married on August 18, 1946 at St. Paul’s RC Church in Haledon. They went to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon and lived in Haledon before moving to Wayne over fifty-five years ago. It was in Haledon that they had their three boys and upon moving to Wayne they had their daughter - Tom's "princess". Evelyn didn’t want to move “all the way to Wayne” as it was considered farm country and way too far away from Haledon. Tom treated Evelyn like a queen, Evelyn truly loved Tom and lived her life to the words of the following poem:

How Much I Love You

I do believe that God above

Created you for me to love

He picked you out from all the rest

Because he knew I’d love you best

I once had a heart both brave and true

But now it’s gone from me to you

Take care of it as I have done

For you have two and I have none

If I get to heaven and you’re not there

I’ll paint your face on the golden stair

So all the angels will know and see

Exactly what you mean to me

And if you’ve not come by Judgment Day

I’ll know you’ve gon the other way

I’ll give the angels back their wings

There golden harps and all those things

And just to prove my love for you

I’ll go to hell dear just for you.

Tom put himself through night school after his three sons were born and graduated from Rutgers University  with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business...all before his daughter was born. He worked for the Frank A McBride Corp. in Hawthorne for forty years before retiring as Director of Purchasing in 1985.

He was a founding parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley RC Church in Wayne and active in many of the parish activities. He was an usher at the first Mass which was held at Wayne Valley High School. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was the first chairman of the Our Lady of the Valley Bazaar held each summer to this day. He was also a member of the Our Lady of the Valley Bowling Team for many years.

Tom’s favorite hobby was playing golf. He was privileged to have golfed all around the world. He had two hole-in-one’s in his life, both at the Apple Ridge Golf Course in Mahwah. His first was during a golf outing where the famous Phil Rizzuto (New York Yankee shortstop and radio and television announcer) was in his foursome. Phil signed the scorecard certifying the hole-in-one and wrote his famous line “Holy Cow!” across the card. When Tom wasn’t golfing he was coaching college football…from his couch.

Tom and Evelyn enjoyed over thirty years of wintering in Boynton Beach Florida and spending summers with the family in Wayne. Tom was also like a father figure to several nieces and nephews, as Tom's brother's died very young, he was really a large part of their lives. It was said that if you looked up the word gentleman in the dictionary you would find the name Thomas Maggio listed in the definition. Even as a young boy in East Paterson he belonged to a group of boys who called themselves “The Samaritans” . They would go out and help others in need. There were originally twelve Samaritans in their group and as the years progressed there were just two left - Tom and his good friend and across the street neighbor Jimmy Stampone. The two of them even had condo’s in the same complex in Florida. As of late Tom and Jimmy would reminisce and say “don’t leave me”.

Tom has been the loving husband of sixty-six years to Evelyn (nee Bracco) Maggio; devoted father of Thomas Maggio of Wayne, Ronald Maggio of Islamorada, FL, Donna Maggio-Ash and her husband William of Wayne, and the late Richard “Ricky” Maggio (2009); loved brother of seven siblings Sophia Rodger of Laguna Niguel, California, Joan Hamler of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and the late Mae Schiermeyer, Lee Carratozzola- Stocek , Frances Hagen, Joseph Maggio, and Salvator Maggio; cherished grandfather of nine grandchildren Toni Veloce, RJ Maggio, Jr., Ricky Maggio, Kimberly Bunner, Tracy Maggio, Billy Ash, Kristen Ash, Ashley Maggio, and Thomas A Maggio III, and six great-grandchildren.

Those inclined to make a memorial donation are asked to consider St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 St Judes Children's Research Hospital Website