Obituary of Anthony J Grimaldi

Grimaldi, Anthony Joseph, 87, devoted husband and father, passed away on January 29, 2021.

Born in Parghelia, Calabria, Italy, on January 17, 1934, “Tony” immigrated to the United States with his parents and older brother in 1936 and grew up in the Astoria section of Queens, New York City.

As a young man, Tony was known as a gifted athlete, youthful hair-raiser and fierce friend. After serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve and US. Army, he worked in radio sales and owned a small business, before launching his storied and highly respected career in casket sales in the New Jersey funeral industry. He retired in 2018 from Matthews Casket Company (formerly Milso and Reliable-Miller), where he worked for 38 years.

In 1958, Tony met the love of his life, his wife of 60 years Carmel (Puglia); the couple settled in Clifton, New Jersey, where they raised their three daughters, building a life centered on family, their neighbors and friends. Tony loved travel, often vising his family in Italy. He loved fine food, foreign films, mystery novels, all types of music, dancing, and anything Italian. Most of all, he loved people.

He is survived by his wife, Carmel; daughters Lisa, Carolyn and Andrea; son-in-law Richmond Clow; brother Dominick Grimaldi; brother-in-law Sal Puglia and his wife, Madeline, as well as nieces, nephew, great niece, great nephews and cousins both here in the U.S. and in Italy.

Visitation will be held Sunday, February 7, from 2 p.m-6 p.m. at the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd, Totowa, N.J .07512. A funeral mass will take place February 8 at 10 a.m. at St. Clare’s R.C. Church, 69 Allwood Road, Clifton, N.J. Relatives and friends are asked to please go directly to the church. The family plans for a future remembrance and celebration of Tony’s life when large gatherings are allowed.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Anthony J Grimaldi Memorial Gift Fund or St. Jude Research Hospital’s Anthony Grimaldi Memorial Gift Fund.