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October 4, 2009
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday October 6, 2009 from 7-9 PM and on Wednesday October 7, 2009 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM on Thursday from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, Wayne, where at 9:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Entombment will follow the Mass on Thursday at Calvary Mausoleum in Paterson, New Jersey.
Thomas J Vatrano Jr., age 80 of Wayne, died on Sunday October 4, 2009 with his family by his side. He was born in Clifton, NJ and attended Clifton High School before joining the Marine Corps at seventeen years of age and he served proudly until 1951.
Upon returning from the Service he joined the Passaic County Park Police Department where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant. He was the first mounted officer to patrol Garrett Mountain Reservation and the first motorcycle patrol at the Passaic County Parks and Golf Course. He went on to the Bergen County Police Academy and graduated in 1964 ranked in the top ten for academics and ranked first for firearms and defensive tactics. He retired in 1979 after thirty years of dedicated service to the department. He was also owner of the Wayne Detective Agency.
He became politically active after his retirement, joining the Wayne Republican Organization in 1980 and served in several official capacities over the years. He sat on the Wayne Republican County Committee from 1985 to 2005, was Executive Vice President of the Wayne Republican Organization from 1988 to 1992, and was Campaign Manager for Ed Faber, Fourth Ward Republican Candidate in 1987. He and Elvira always had something going on; social engagements, political affairs and the like. He rarely sat still and always had something to do. Tom was also a member of the Wayne Elks Lodge 2111 since 1963, a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1980 and served as Grand Knight from 1986 to 1990, a member of the Lions Club of Wayne since 1985 and was also a life member of the Police Benevolent Association.
Tom married Elvira (nee Montalbetti) in 1961 and they enjoyed forty eight years of “exciting” times together. Many know Tom was a great dancer and on one of their first dates, he took Elvira to the Peppermint Lounge in New York City. The place was so jamb packed that night that they had to get up on a table to dance! They did “The Twist” as Chubby Checker played live. They enjoyed great times together, travelling too. They visited Austria, Hungary, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas several times. They made many trips to Atlantic City, most recently just a few weeks ago. Tom was a “sun worshiper” and loved the beach. Their family vacations were typically to Wildwood and later to Ortley Beach at the Jersey Shore. Tom provided his family with many fond memories over the years that they can all treasure.
Tom leaves his loving wife, Elvira of Wayne, four beloved daughters; Linda Kaar and her husband Ed of Wayne, Gloria Turi and her husband Rich of Mendon, Massachusetts, Donna Celmer and her husband Kirk of Warwick, New York, and Roselin Nelson and her husband Michael of Rockaway, ten grand-children; Marielle Kaar of Wayne, Christan and Jesse O’Neill of Warwick, New York, Jenni Favara and her husband Rob of Warwick, New York, Michael, Kevin, Jacquelin and Tommi Nelson of Rockaway, and John Paul and Thomas DiMuzio of Mendon, Massachusetts, as well as two great-grandchildren.
Donations in Tom's memory, if friends so wish, can be made to The Melanoma Research Foundation, 170 Township Line Road, Building B, Hillsborough, NJ 08844. A donation form can be printed out by clicking below.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday October 6, 2009 from 7-9 PM and on Wednesday October 7, 2009 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM on Thursday from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, Wayne, where at 9:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Entombment will follow the Mass on Thursday at Calvary Mausoleum in Paterson, New Jersey.
October 4, 2009
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday October 6, 2009 from 7-9 PM and on Wednesday October 7, 2009 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM on Thursday from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, Wayne, where at 9:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Entombment will follow the Mass on Thursday at Calvary Mausoleum in Paterson, New Jersey.
Thomas J Vatrano Jr., age 80 of Wayne, died on Sunday October 4, 2009 with his family by his side. He was born in Clifton, NJ and attended Clifton High School before joining the Marine Corps at seventeen years of age and he served proudly until 1951.
Upon returning from the Service he joined the Passaic County Park Police Department where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant. He was the first mounted officer to patrol Garrett Mountain Reservation and the first motorcycle patrol at the Passaic County Parks and Golf Course. He went on to the Bergen County Police Academy and graduated in 1964 ranked in the top ten for academics and ranked first for firearms and defensive tactics. He retired in 1979 after thirty years of dedicated service to the department. He was also owner of the Wayne Detective Agency.
He became politically active after his retirement, joining the Wayne Republican Organization in 1980 and served in several official capacities over the years. He sat on the Wayne Republican County Committee from 1985 to 2005, was Executive Vice President of the Wayne Republican Organization from 1988 to 1992, and was Campaign Manager for Ed Faber, Fourth Ward Republican Candidate in 1987. He and Elvira always had something going on; social engagements, political affairs and the like. He rarely sat still and always had something to do. Tom was also a member of the Wayne Elks Lodge 2111 since 1963, a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1980 and served as Grand Knight from 1986 to 1990, a member of the Lions Club of Wayne since 1985 and was also a life member of the Police Benevolent Association.
Tom married Elvira (nee Montalbetti) in 1961 and they enjoyed forty eight years of “exciting” times together. Many know Tom was a great dancer and on one of their first dates, he took Elvira to the Peppermint Lounge in New York City. The place was so jamb packed that night that they had to get up on a table to dance! They did “The Twist” as Chubby Checker played live. They enjoyed great times together, travelling too. They visited Austria, Hungary, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas several times. They made many trips to Atlantic City, most recently just a few weeks ago. Tom was a “sun worshiper” and loved the beach. Their family vacations were typically to Wildwood and later to Ortley Beach at the Jersey Shore. Tom provided his family with many fond memories over the years that they can all treasure.
Tom leaves his loving wife, Elvira of Wayne, four beloved daughters; Linda Kaar and her husband Ed of Wayne, Gloria Turi and her husband Rich of Mendon, Massachusetts, Donna Celmer and her husband Kirk of Warwick, New York, and Roselin Nelson and her husband Michael of Rockaway, ten grand-children; Marielle Kaar of Wayne, Christan and Jesse O’Neill of Warwick, New York, Jenni Favara and her husband Rob of Warwick, New York, Michael, Kevin, Jacquelin and Tommi Nelson of Rockaway, and John Paul and Thomas DiMuzio of Mendon, Massachusetts, as well as two great-grandchildren.
Donations in Tom's memory, if friends so wish, can be made to The Melanoma Research Foundation, 170 Township Line Road, Building B, Hillsborough, NJ 08844. A donation form can be printed out by clicking below.
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