Thomasina “Tam” Gullotta

Thomasina “Tam” Gullotta, age 70, Naples, FL, formerly of Wayne, passed Sunday, July 31, 2022.

She was born to Andrew and Thomasina Meli in Queens, New York and raised in Cresskill, New Jersey. She graduated from the Academy of the Holy Angels High School with the Class of 1969.  She went on to receive her Bachelors Degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education from Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck with the Class of 1973 and went on to get her Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education from Montclair State College with the Class of 1975.

During her high school years Thomasina worked at Hofstetter’s Bakery in Tenafly. During her college years she worked in a secretarial capacity for the Alpine Country Club.  After graduating with her undergraduate degree, she found a position teaching with the Westwood Regional School District where she taught from 1973 through her retirement in 2008.  During her years with the Westwood Schools, she mainly taught Mathematics and Advanced High School Mathematics in the 11th and 12th grades. For many years she enjoyed coordinating the Color Guard, attending any games where they performed, and was often chosen to be a Prom Chaperone. Her heart was devoted to teaching, she loved the kids and they loved her back.

Tam had a passion for cooking and was always willing to try something new.  The love she cooked into all her food, but especially her eggplant and meatballs, will be dearly missed. She had a very outgoing personality, made friends easily, could speak Infront of a crowd with ease, was caring and compassionate, and never gave an answer to something she had not thoroughly thought through.

Thomasina met Joseph Gullotta through mutual friends. They began dating in their early 20’s and after securing her dad’s permission, proposed at a friend’s apartment.  They married on August 22, 1976, at Saint Therese of Lisieux Church in Creskill and honeymooned in Bermuda.  They have had a loving and devoted marriage of forty-six years.

Thomasina was the loving wife of Joseph Gullotta; devoted mother of Michele Stoffel and her husband Dave of Denville; cherished grandmother of Adriana, Ava, and Olivia Stoffel; loved sister of Robert Meli of Richmond, VA, Theresa Millan of Clearwater, FL, and Ken Meli of Mahwah.  She will be dearly missed by her sister-in-law Rita Gullotta of Chester. She will also be missed by her six nieces and nephews, three great-nieces, cousins, and friends.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital