Obituary of Joseph H. Banghardt

Banghardt, Joseph H. a Paterson Hall of Fame Athlete of Totowa at rest in Totowa on August 25, 2005. Beloved husband of Madeline (nee Dransfield) Banghardt. Father of Judy Banghardt, Dale Catucci and her husband Mike, John Banghardt, Jill Basile and her husband Paul and Ricky Banghardt. Grandfather of Joseph and David Basile and Jonathan Catucci. Survivors include several nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd., Totowa, on Tuesday at 9:00 AM. Funeral Mass to follow at St. Bonaventure R.C. Church, Paterson at 9:30 AM. Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa. Friends may call Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 PM and Monday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Paterson Old Timers Athletic Association, Paterson, NJ would be appreciated. For more information go to www.festamemorial.com OBITUARY Joseph H. Banghardt age 83 of Totowa died Thursday after a lengthy illness. Born in Paterson, he lived there most of his life before moving to Totowa 18 years ago. Mr. Banghardt had his own design and drafting firm, Banghardt Associates, for many years. He was a Teacher at The Plaza School in Paramus for 15 before retiring in 1983. Prior to that he was a designer and drafter for ABC Engraving, Paterson and Curtiss-Wright, Fairfield. Mr. Banghardt was a W.W. II veteran of the United States Coast Guard where he served on the troop transport of the USS Wakefield and was a member of the VFW Post 10104 of Totowa and the American Legion. He was also a parishioner of St. Bonaventure. R.C. Church, Paterson. Mr. Banghardt is best known as one of the most versatile and outstanding amateur athletes to come out of Paterson. He was the 1962 winner of the Gourley Award for the Top Amateur Athlete in the Paterson area. Mr. Banghardt was awarded the Lou Costello Memorial Award in 2000 for his years of dedication and service to the youth of Paterson. The culmination of which was Mr. Banghardts induction into the Paterson Hall of Fame in 1997. Mr. Banghardt played hockey from the 1930s through the 1950s. During that span, he was the House Goalie for the Boston Bruins in the early 1940s and played on the Alling Leafs championship team in 1941. Mr. Banghardt also played fast-pitch softball in the 1950s and 1960s for the championship teams of the Hawthorne Chevies where he recorded a record-breaking batting average of .773 in the 1957 season. Mr. Banghardt played soccer with many teams, including the Paterson Dovers throughout the 1950s and 1960s, finally retiring from the game at age 52. However, Mr. Banghardts greatest love of sports was brought forth in his many years of coaching Little League Baseball and soccer teams. Mr. Banghardt, along with Jack Mc Fadden and Archie Ralston, was instrumental in the Paterson Old Timers Athletic Association starting the Paterson soccer clinics in the early 1960s, well before soccer became the Saturday pastime it now is for millions of children. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Paterson Old Timers Athletic Association, whose motto of for the kids is how Joe Banghardt lived his life. Survivors include his wife: The former Madeline (nee Dransfield) of Totowa, NJ Daughter: Judy Banghardt of Totowa, NJ Daughter: Dale Catucci of Forks Twsp., PA Son: John Banghardt of West Paterson, NJ Daughter: Jill Basile of Herndon, VA Son: Ricky Banghardt of Totowa, NJ Also survived by 3 grandchildren 2 sons-in-law and several nieces and nephews . Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd, Totowa is in charge of arrangements.