Thomas F. Portelli, Esq.

Thomas Frank Portelli, Esq., age 71 of Wayne, died suddenly on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.  He had been a Wayne resident since 1985.

Thomas grew up in Paterson and graduated from St. John the Baptist Catholic High School in 1964.  He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University, his J.D. from the North Carolina Central University, and then his Master’s in Labor Law at NYU.  He began his professional career with the Clifton Public Utility, had his own legal practice for many years, and was currently the Public Defender for the Township of Wayne and Riverdale Boro.  He was also a member of many professional organizations.

Thomas was a devoted Catholic and has attended Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in Pequannock since 1989.  He was currently the Vice President of the American Catholic Lawyers Association, and also a Knight of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Thomas had many hobbies and was affectionately known as “Mr. Green Thumb” for his prowess in the garden.  He grew beautiful roses and always had a great vegetable garden.  For a period of time he started to make his own wine, which wasn’t really all that bad.  Thomas was also a fantastic cook who could put together some really fantastic meals.  He would describe himself as a “chef” rather than a “cook” because of the way he prepared his dishes, and everyone raved about his cooking.

Thomas’s family was, of course, most important to him.  He and his wife enjoyed a fun and humorous marriage, and he never failed to make her laugh.  His children recall him being a very inspirational dad who would do anything for them.  He was a hero to all of them.  Always a very proud Italian, Tom even tried to teach his kids to speak Italian, but they only seemed to pick up the bad words.  Most of all though, Tom was enamored with his young grandson, Logan Thomas.  They were buddies and couldn’t get enough of each other.  Little Logan would follow grandpa everywhere.  There is also something special that Tom said each time any of them would part company, and it seems appropriate to share it right here;  “I love you.  God bless you.”

Thomas is survived by his wife Mary Jane of Wayne, four children; Andrew Portelli of Fairfield, Maria Donohue and her husband Timothy of Wanaque, Cristina Allstaedt and her husband Joshua of Lincoln Park, and Joseph Thomas Portelli of Wayne, a grandson; Logan Donohue, one sister; Linda Mallaney and her husband Thomas of Wyckoff, and a brother; Joseph A. Portelli and his wife Brenda of Wayne, as well as many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, www.stjude.org, would be appreciated.