Joseph W. Sutaris

Joseph Sutaris, age 85, of Toms River, NJ, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on February 7, 2025. Joseph was born in Newark, NJ, on May 25, 1939, to Michael and Mary Sutaris (nee Lengyel), who were Ukrainian immigrants. His parents were of modest means but instilled good values in him.

Joseph studied auto mechanics in high school and graduated from Newark Vo-Tech in 1957. In the early 1960’s he was employed by Federal Pacific and reconnected with Sandra, the love of his life, who he had known for several years. He would often drive Sandra and her girlfriend home from work and take the long way to drop her friend off first so he could spend more time with Sandra. They began dating and were wed in 1964. Over the next six years Joseph and Sandra had three children, JoAnn, Joseph, and Thomas. In 1969, they opted to leave the city and move to the Jersey Shore area. They moved to Bayville for a few years and then settled in Beachwood, NJ, in 1972 to raise their family.

Joseph began working for the Newark branch of US Postal Service in 1965, and transferred to the Toms River branch in 1969, where he remained employed until his retirement in 1998. Joseph enjoyed participating in activities with his co-workers including bowling and softball. He also loved chatting up patrons on his route.

Joe was always up for a good time! He loved socializing and could strike up a conversation with just about anybody. He enjoyed dancing and Sandra encouraged him to take the other ladies on the dance floor so she could sit out occasionally, and jovial Joe obliged. On Sunday afternoons during the fall you could find Joe in front of the TV having a cold Budweiser or two and watching his beloved Giants. There might have been a few bad words slipping out of his mouth while watching the game, but it was never too bad in front of his wife or kids.

Joseph was very proud of his family and passed on his good values to his children. He made sure his children got a good education and always made sure his wife and children had what they needed, even if he was frugal with himself. Joe enjoyed watching his children participate in sports as much as possible around his work schedule. He would always attend their games, often showing up in his signature mailman uniform, even if it was the third quarter of a basketball or soccer game, or the third inning of a baseball or softball game. Joe sometimes voiced his opinions about calls a little too vociferously causing occasional blushing from his children, but he showed up. Long after his children graduated from high school, he could still be seen at the Toms River South baseball field with his wife Sandra cheering on the Indians where his two sons had played in high school. When his son Tommy was coaching baseball at the local high school level, he attended those games as well, continuing to voice his opinions about calls. And upon becoming a grandfather he could be seen in attendance at his grandchildren’s events and activities as much as logistics would allow, always supporting them through life’s journey even when he couldn’t be physically present.

Joseph and his wife became snowbirds and escaped to Florida in the winters after they retired in 1998. They thoroughly enjoyed their retirement for over two decades including traveling and spending time with friends and owning a second home in Florida.

Joseph was predeceased by his wife, Sandra, on January 4, 2023. He missed her immensely. He was also predeceased by his parents Michael and Mary Sutaris; his two brothers, Charlie and Michael; and his beloved sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carol and Conrad Ihrig. Joseph is survived by his three children JoAnn Tilton and her husband Paul, Joseph Sutaris and his wife Sarah, and Thomas Sutaris and his wife Susan; and five grandchildren Brooke and Brett Sutaris (and their mother Donna Sutaris), Mackenzie and Cody Sutaris, and Kira Tilton. He also leaves behind his brother-in-law Edward Zawora and his wife Carole, and his beloved nieces Denise Ihrig-Hernandez, Michele Ihrig Salvia, Chrissy Zawora Fick and nephew Edward Zawora, in addition to numerous great nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a heart-felt thank you to Joseph’s caregiver, Sheila, who for the past two years cared for him and kept him comfortable in his own home.

Visitation for Joseph will be held on Saturday, February 15, beginning at 8:30 with a service @ 10:45 am at Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main Street, Toms River, followed by a burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Cedar Grove Road, Toms River. A celebration of life will follow the burial around 1 pm at Artisan’s Restaurant, Hooper Avenue, Toms River.