In Memory of
Anthony Raiola
February 19, 2022
Obituary
Obituary of
Anthony Raiola
Surrounded by love, Anthony (“Tony”) Raiola, passed
peacefully on February 19, 2022. He has gone to join
Rosemarie, his loving wife of 56 years.
He is survived
by their four children: Robert, Christopher, Jennifer (Danzo)
and Jonathan; their spouses: Susan, Angela, Claudio and
Lawrence; their nine grandchildren: Alyssa, Julia,
Robert, Christopher, Matthew, Victoria, Emma, Sofia and
Leonardo; and two brothers: Pacifico (“Pargie”) and
Vincent.
A loving son, husband, father, grandfather, brother,
uncle and friend to all, he treasured being in the
company of his large family and many friends who shared
his love for fine food and great conversation. The
highlight of each year was always Christmas Eve, when
Tony (“Nonno”) would harness his imagination and
creativity to devise elaborate treasure (gift) hunts,
riddles and games (costumes provided) for his
grandchildren.
Deeply kind, funny and original, he was full of life and
was a man of great style (with the perfect hat for every
occasion). A member of the unofficial “ROMEOS” club, a
life-long learner, an avid poet and painter, Tony
dedicated his life to connecting with, and helping,
anyone who crossed his path. Most days he could be found
working out at the Madison YMCA with his gym buddies,
and later at the AVE gym – holding court, offering
advice, sharing jokes, and of course, staying fit. He
was a splendid cook - his spaghetti with clams recipe is
legendary.
A graduate of St. John's University, summa cum laude, he
was one of the few graduates in the history of St.
John's University to ever graduate as a four-award
winner (including the Mahoney Memorial Award for
excellence in theology and philosophy). A St. Thomas
More Scholar and graduate of St. John’s University
School of Law, he worked as a lawyer for over thirty
years and served as Deputy Chief of the Contracts
Division of the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey, having drafted the contracts for the
construction of the Twin Towers, as well as for
countless improvements to the NYC airports, bridges and
tunnels.
Born to Antonio (“Tony”) and Julia Raiola - on the
kitchen table - and raised in Brooklyn, NY (where he
served as an altar boy at Our Lady of Peace Church) and
later a resident of Convent Station, NJ and most
recently, Ave in Florham Park, Tony volunteered at the
Morristown Memorial Hospital Cancer Center for 9 years.
We will cherish forever his effervescence, compassion,
brilliance, limitless love and affable aura. He will be
profoundly missed but we are grounded in the assurance
that we carry his unfailing love with us always.
Childlike to the end, he remains in our hearts and in
his own words “ancora birichino” – still a rascal!
A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas More
Church on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 10:30 A.M.
Guests are respectfully requested to wear masks. In lieu
of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s
Children’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, or the
National MS Society.
Arrangements are entrusted to
Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral
Home, Madison
Funeral Mass:
Saturday, February 26, 2022
10:30 am - 11:30 am
St. Thomas More Church
4 Convent Road
Morristown, New Jersey 07960
Interment:
Saturday, February 26, 2022
11:45 am - 12:00 pm
Holy Rood Cemetery
61 Whippany Road
Morristown , New Jersey 07960
