Joseph Emil Anzalone

Joseph Emil Anzalone of West Orange, NJ died peacefully at home on February 21, 2020.

He leaves behind his daughters and sons-in-law Linda and George Woolley of Bethesda, Maryland, Carole Anzalone-Newman and Douglas Newman of South Orange, NJ, Mary Jo and Anthony DeFranco of South Orange, NJ and Nancy Anzalone of San Diego, CA. In addition, he leaves seven grandchildren, Erica Grohman (Rob Grohman), Charlotte Woolley Stewart (Blount Stewart), Alyssa Anzalone-Newman, Nina Woolley Ragunanthan (Braveen Ragunanthan), Julia DeFranco, David DeFranco, and Daniel DeFranco, and a step-grandchild, Jennifer Woolley Skinner. He also leaves two great-grandchildren, Cecily Rose and William Stewart. His wife of nearly 60 years, R. Barbara (LaSardo) Anzalone, predeceased him in 2012. His sister, Antoinette (Toni) Anzalone also of West Orange, NJ predeceased him in 2012. He leaves a sister-in-law, Yolanda Holzer of Manalapan, NJ, but previously of West Orange, and many nieces and nephews. He was especially close to his nephew and buddy, Rudy Alcide of Fairfield, NJ. In addition, he leaves behind his dear friend and companion of the last several years, Rennie DeJonge of Paterson, NJ.

Joe was a proud graduate (Class of 1951) of United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. He supported the school in many ways, including chairing several of its alumni reunions. He credited the school with giving him a solid education and firm foundation in the engineering world and in life in general. He made sure that his children knew the Kings Point motto, "Acta non verba," or "Acts, not words," which he lived by everyday, believing that how one lived one's life was much more important that what he would call "lip service."

During his Kings Point education, Joe sailed on several merchant vessels, working in the engine room. Upon graduating from Kings Point, he served in the US Navy for with the rank Lt. j.g. for two years. He commanded the engine room of the Admiral's ship, the U.S.S. Estes, during the nuclear testing exercises in the South Pacific Enawetok Atoll. He returned from the South Pacific to join his wife and new daughter in San Diego.

Following his Navy service, the young family and their cocker spaniel, Spunky, drove back East in a 1950 Ford sedan named Bessie, eventually settling in Nutley, New Jersey. Joe taught at Lincoln Technical Institute and then worked for several engineering firms before founding Thermco in 1968, an extremely successful manufacturers representative company in Clifton, NJ. He served as Thermco's president until his retirement in 2004. He was exceedingly proud that throughout the course of his career, he mentored new talent, including some Kings Point grads, and that Thermco continues to thrive today.

Joe was also a past president and proud member of Orange/West Orange chapter of UNICO National, an organization devoted to the promotion of the image of Italian Americans, along with Italian heritage and culture, by supporting charitable, scientific, cultural, educational, and literary projects. The motto of UNICO is, "service above self," which Joe embraced. He was always a dedicated volunteer at the organization's annual Sports Awards Breakfast and other events throughout the years. Before women could join UNICO, his wife Barbara also was a past president and fundraiser extraordinaire of the UNICO Ladies Auxiliary. Joe was always tremendously proud of Barbara's hard work to advance UNICO, as well.

While a great many men would have mourned not having any sons, Joe was always very proud of his daughters. He joked with them often about, "women's work," but he reveled when one of them achieved something new or got a promotion. He loved it that a daughter and grand-daughter became lawyers, another grand-daughter became a a doctor, still another got an MBA, and all of his grandchildren graduated or are about to graduate from college, and most, from graduate school.

In addition, he frequently told them about female Kings Point grads who went on to run major ports or captain ships. He proudly wore all of his grandchildren's college t-shirts. Joe adored the boys, too. David and Daniel were his favorite lunch-time companions. And great-grandchildren, Cecily and William made him beam, especially as he taught them to hoist the flag each morning on the flag pole in Beach Haven.

Joe was an avid fisherman and loved captaining his own boats, the many Volares. It was only this past year, at age 90, that he sold the last Volare, a 28' HydraSport. But he was thrilled that it went to a young marine policeman in Cape Cod who asked Joe if he could keep the boat's name and sent him photos of his family on the boat. Joe and his wife were summer residents of Beach Haven, NJ for over 40 years. They and their family spent many summers in their house on Barnegat Bay. One of their many delights was hosting "Spoilers Week" for the grandchildren who loved being at the shore without their parents and with the grandparents who adored them.

A viewing will take place on Thursday, February 27, 2020 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Ippolito-Dancy Funeral Home, 9 Smull Avenue, Caldwell, NJ 07006. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Lake Church, 22 Lakeside Ave., Verona, NJ 07044 on Friday, February 28, 2020 at 10:00 AM. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 225 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover, NJ 07936.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that contributions may be made to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in the name of Joseph Anzalone '51. Contributions may be made online https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1860/18/interior.aspx?sid=1860&gid=2&pgid=418&cid=1063&appealcode=nav Contributions can be made by check in memory of Joseph Anzalone '51 also and mailed to: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Foundation (USAAF)300 Steamboat RoadKings Point, NY 11024, Attn: Lisa Donitz.