Morris J. Vivona Obituary (1920 - 2018)

Morris J. Vivona, 97, of West Caldwell passed away on August 25, 2018. Relatives and friends may visit with the family at Paul Ippolito-Dancy Memorial, 9 Smull Ave., Caldwell, on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018 from 4 to 8 p.m. The Mass will be offered at St. Aloysius Church, Caldwell, on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 at 10 a.m., followed by the interment at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Caldwell. Born in Newark, N.J., Mr. Vivona lived in West Caldwell for more than 50 years. He and his late wife, Ethel, also maintained a home in Florida for many years. In 1939, Mr. Vivona founded Amusements of America with the purchase of the ferris wheel from the N.Y. World's Fair. He has remained active with its everyday functions as Chairman of the Board. In addition, he served as past president of the National and New York Showman's Associations, served as director of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, was the Eldest member and former director of Miami Showman's Association and president of the St. Louis Showman's Association. In 1995, Amusements of America was named the World's Largest Traveling Amusement Park by the Guinness World Record, of which he was very proud. Mr. Vivona was the recipient of many awards including the International Independent Showman's Association Hall of Fame, the Friend of the Fairs Award from the State of South Carolina, and was named Man of the Year by the Miami Showman's Association. He was the beloved husband of 70 years to the late Ethel Vivona; loving father of Dr. Kathryn Fedina and her husband, Anthony, Adrienne Vivona Inman and Morris Vivona Jr.; dear brother of Dominic Vivona Sr., Philip Vivona Sr. and the late John Vivona , Sebastian (Babe) Vivona and Ann Fontana; cherished grandfather to Kimberly Pyontek, Dr. John Fedina, Kacie Mangler, Gregory Inman, Jessica Vivona and Joe Vivona, and adored great-grandfather to Nicholas and Isabella Pyontek, Marissa, Gianna and Charlotte Mangler, Jordan Inman , and Jake and Gage Fedina.