The Family of Salvatore Passafaro, of North Caldwell, Fireman, Auxiliary Police Officer and Founding Member of Notre Dame Church, Have Announced His Death

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 8:29pm

NORTH CALDWELL, NJ - The family of  Salvatore Passafaro, of North Caldwell, has announced that, after a short illness, he passed away on Saturday at the age of 96. At his time of death, Salvatore was surrounded by his loving family at Mountainside Hospital, Montclair. His family and friends are deeply saddened by their loss and the community will mourn his absence. 

Salvatore was originally born in Rumford, Maine, to Leonardo and Paola Passafaro; eventually the family moved to North Caldwell, where he lived for most of his life. Salvatore graduated in 1938 from Grover Cleveland High School in Caldwell, and later received his Fireman's License from the State of New Jersey.

Salvatore was a manager at the Greenbrook Poultry Farm, which was located on Gould Avenue in North Caldwell. Later in life, he presented information about the farm with organizations including the North Caldwell Historical Society and was used as a reference for the Charles A. Poekel Jr. book, "West Essex: Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, and Roseland."

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"The farm produced over 3.5 million eggs per year and housed over 50,000
White Leghorn hens and almost 120,000 turkeys," a family member detailed.
"He was responsible for many areas of the farm's operations, including the medical and nutritional care for the laying and replacement flocks.
As a representative of the farm, he traveled to meet
with suppliers and other farm owners,
including the celebrated Danish humorist and musician Victor Borge, 
and he was profiled in several trade publications."

For 33 years, Salvatore was the Assistant Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds for the West Essex Regional School District Board of Education in North Caldwell.

"He was publicly recognized by the Trustees of the Board of Education
for heroic actions that prevented a catastrophic event
involving the electrical system at the high school," recalled a family member. "During an interview with The Progress, he recalled,
'We had no lights, power, air conditioning, or refrigeration.
Public Service Electric and Gas and the Fire Department
had been called in, but they wouldn't touch it.
So I came in, risked my life, and went down to turn off the transformer'." 

Salvatore also became a North Caldwell Auxiliary Police Officer, serving in various capacities for numerous cultural and sporting events. He was also a founding member of Notre Dame Church, North Caldwell and continued to serve the church community for the rest of his life. Throughout his life, he also shared his passion for woodworking and various crafts with family, friends, and loved ones."

"Salvatore was known for his quiet participation,
for using his skills to solve problems and create," a family member expressed. "He was passionate about serving his community of faith at Notre Dame,
and he was instrumental in arranging for Sunday services
to be held at the local high school until a permanent structure was built."

Salvatore's Family
Salvatore was predeceased by his brothers, Anthony, Marcello, and Dominic Passafaro; and his sisters Rose Passafaro Gorman and Theresa Passafaro Carnavale.  He is survived by: 

• His Wife of 72 Years
  Rose Pressimone Passafaro
  
  
• His Children
  David Passafaro and his wife, Charleen
  Rosemarie Passafaro Ribaudo
  Allen Passafaro
  Rosanne Passafaro Scriffignano and her husband, Anthony
   
  
• Five Grandchildren
  
  
• Five Great-Grandchildren
  
  
• His Siblings and Family
  Margaret Passafaro Di Giacomo
  Arthur Passafaro

Memorial Arrangements
The memorial arrangements for Salvatore Passafaro are as follows:

• Wake
  Codey & Jones Funeral Home
  54 Roseland Avenue, Caldwell 
• Thursday, Jan. 20
  6pm to 9pm 

• Mass of Christian Burial 
  Notre Dame Church
  359 Central Avenue, North Caldwell
  
• Friday, Jan. 21 
  10am 
• Internment
  Gate of Heaven Cemetery 
  225 Ridgedale Road, East Hanover 

Message of Condolence  
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Codey & Jones Funeral Home of Caldwell. Notes of sympathy may be written to the family online here. 

Memorial Donations
In lieu of flowers, donations to the PBA Local 81 or to the Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey would be greatly appreciated: 

• PBA Local 81
  In Recognition of Salvatore Passafaro, of North Caldwell 
  PO Box 81
  Essex Fells, NJ 07021
• or online here 
  
  
• Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey
  3 Manhattan Drive
  Burlington, NJ 08016 
• or online here
  
  

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