Joseph R. Pucillo

Born in Newark on May 27, 1925, he lived most of his life in Cedar Grove. Joe was a graduate of Bloomfield High School. He received a BS from Panzer College and a MA from Rutgers University. He served in the US Navy during World War II.

Joe began his long career in education as a teacher in the Peapack-Gladstone system. He then became the Director of Recreation for Bernardsville Township. In 1957, Joe became the head baseball coach at Newark Rutgers and also the Assistant Director of Athletics, a position he held until 1988. Joe was an avid golfer and bowler and even took a turn as actor, appearing in several episodes of the “Sopranos”. While living in Cedar Grove, Joe was a member of the Elks Lodge and sat on the Township Recreation Board.

Ten years ago, Joe moved to the Renaissance community in Manchester where he became an active member of several organizations including one that provided scholarship aid to local high school students, continuing his lifelong commitment to education.

Joe is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Rosemarie (DiDomenico); two beloved daughters, Marilyn and her partner John Killoy of Montague, and Elissa and her husband Thomas O’Hara of Cedar Grove; three grandchildren, Christopher O’Hara and his wife Cynthia of Belleville, Jennifer Marino and her husband Eric of Cedar Grove, and Bryan O’Hara of Bloomfield, and two great grandsons Christian Nardino and Riley Marino. Joe will be missed by his many loving cousins, friends and former students

The viewing will be on Wednesday June 8, at the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home on Route 571 in Manchester. You are invited to visit from 1-3 or 6-8 pm. A private cremation will be held later. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Heart Association, 1 Union Street, Suite 301, Robbinsville, NJ 08697. Tributes can be sent to andersoncambellmanchester.com.