Obituary of Anthony R. Colasurdo

Anthony R. Colasurdo died on Friday July 6, 2018 at his home in Clearbrook, Monroe Twp. He was 94 years old. Mr. Colasurdo was born on Sept. 1, 1923 in Jersey City, although he considered Bayonne where he lived for 43 years his birthplace. Only child of the late Joseph and Carmela (Alberti) Colasurdo, who both died at 91 years old, as an only child, he had a Mom who was his best friend and always gave herself for him. He quickly became interested in music and dancing. He joined the Uncle Jack’s Children’s Hour on stations WAAT and WMCA as a singer, tap dancer, and radio announcer for Uncle Jack. He graduated Bayonne Senior High in June of 1941 as a member of the Honor Society and Assistant Editor of the Class Year Book. He was the winner of the prestigious Public Speaking Award and became the main speaker at the graduation ceremony. As a child he became a devout Roman Catholic with deep devotion to Jesus Christ, St. Anthony, and the Assumption. He followed this devotion his entire lifetime. In his first position in his working career, he became manager of the Wartime Confidential Department at the Solar Manufacturing Co. in Bayonne. During WWII he was responsible for the Manufacturing of Critical Defense parts needed in the War Effort. He found time to enlist in the New Jersey National Guard and performed as an Administrative Officer for many years. In 1962 after a few years with Majestic Specialties, Inc., Exxon, and Lummus Engineering, he began his career in Municipal Government as Executive Director of the Industrial Commission of Wayne Township. In this position, he was instrumental in convincing some Blue Chip Companies to set up their main offices in Wayne Twp. and these ratables helped the property taxes of the Township to remain low. In 1964, he became the first Business Administrator of Scotch Plains. He immediately embarked on a long range program to revise the organization of all Departments in the Township and spearheaded a drive to construct a functional new Municipal Building utilizing the new Department responsibilities to the residents. In 1971 he accepted the Business Administrator position in South Brunswick Twp. As the first Business Administrator, he saw the need for a new Municipal Complex. He succeeded in the construction of this complex utilizing the facility to aid all of the residents of the Township including the Senior Citizens who enjoyed a place for many activities to brighten their days in retirement. He was honored as Business Administrator of the year from 1972-1976. Mr. Colasurdo was happily married for 17 years to the late Antoinette (Pastorello) Colasurdo who died in 1983. In 1984 as a widower, he became President of the Widow and Widowers Dance Club of Carteret, aiding widowed individuals to continue with their lives. It was at a widowers dance in Parlin in 1989 where he met Rose Alfonso. The rest is a love story. He married Rose (Alfonso) Colasurdo in 1991 and moved to the Clearbrook, Monroe Twp. Adult Community. He immediately enjoyed Rose’s kitchen. They had enjoyed many happy years with friends who shared their golden years together. He and Rose loved to dance and enjoyed daily trips, cruises, and travel to places such as Italy, Hawaii, Alaska, Panama, Punta Cana, and many other memorable functions both in Clearbrook, and Bayonne. He adored Rose who passed away in June, 2016. He was active as a Director of the Italian American Club, member of the Bocce Club, Catholic Society, Jamesburg Seniors, Italian American Cultural Society of Monroe Twp., the Young at Hearts Club of Bayonne, and enjoyed golfing at Clearbrook Golf Club. He was a parishioner of Nativity of Our Lord RC Church, Monroe Twp. Anthony appreciated honesty, true friends, and love of Country. He was thankful to the Dear Lord for the good fortune to have lived during the Greatest Generation where he enjoyed the talents of Glenn Miller, Fred Astaire, and Frank Sinatra. He had Bayonne neighborhood and High School friends who became his lifetime friends, a cousin who became his closest friend, and a municipal friend who introduced him to Eddy Farm Resort in Sparrowbush, NY where he met his first wife, Ann. He developed many close relationships with strangers he met in Long Branch during summer vacations. He built up close Business relationships with his Real Estate friends, and last but not least, his dear pal, Butch, his dog for 13 years. Mr. Colasurdo wished to extend God’s Blessings to all of his family and dear friends whom he is survived by. Visitation will be from 2-4pm and 7-9pm on Wednesday July 11, 2018 at the M. David DeMarco Funeral Home, Inc. 205 Rhode Hall Rd. Monroe Twp., NJ 08831, 732-521-0555. A funeral liturgy will be 9:30am on Thursday July 12, 2018 at Nativity of Our Lord RC Church, 185 Applegarth Rd. Monroe Twp., NJ 08831. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum, North Arlington. For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org.