Madeline was a native Staten Islander born in Rosebank, on March 9 of 1920. She was a graduate of Curtis High School. In 1946 she married James Conte who owned Conte's supermarket, a family business, at 402 Jersey St., where she worked as cashier and bookkeeper.
In 1970 they went into the restaurant business and opened the Brighton Lounge, where Madeline was the original cook, with famous dishes like Lobster Fra Diavolo, Shrimp Scampi, Filet Oreganato and the crowd favorite, her signature cream puffs. They had a very successful run for 15 years with an interesting supporting cast in the kitchen and behind the bar. The restaurant drew a varied clientele from Howland Hook dockworkers, to local doctors Timpone, Manfredi, Caracta, Romano and many staff from both Staten Island and St. Vincent's Hospitals. Customers flocked to the restaurant from the courthouse in St. George, the surrounding schools; the neighborhood characters provided local color. Many Staten Island notables visited the restaurant frequently, Staten Island Advance Editor Richard Diamond and his wife Alice were regulars as were members of the judiciary especially esteemed Judges Titone and McBrien, District Attorneys and the local political figures and electeds. The famous Tony Bennet visited the restaurant multiple times to sample Madeline’s cooking.
Madeline and Jimmy lived for many years on Todt Hill and retired to Toms River in 1987. Her husband Jimmy died in 1994 after 48 years of marriage; afterwards she continued her life there, all the while active and in good health. Always cooking and keeping the family together. She is survived by her sons, Gerard and James Jr, and two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5