Obituary of Richard F. Policastro

Richard Policastro passed away on January 12, 2020 at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital surrounded by his family. Richard was born on September 3, 1947 to Marie Rose (Piazza) and Joseph Policastro. He was the baby brother to his siblings Joseph and Valerie.  Rich graduated from Highland Park High School in 1965, where he met the love of his life Lynda Rosenberg.

Richard attended Virginia Military Institute and then transferred to Rutgers University from which he graduated. Some of his proudest memories are from his football career as a Scarlet Knight. He was an All East and Honorable Mention All American. He was the Scarlets MVP (Homer Hazel award) recipient in 1969. At that time, he was the top rated passer in RU history. He played in the Blue Grey All Star game and was inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990. He was a commentator on WCTC radio broadcasts of Rutgers football for ten years, retiring to watch his son Richie quarterback for Highland Park High School.

In 1970, he married his high school sweetheart, Lynda, and they eventually moved to Edison to raise their children, Debbie and Rich. Richard and Lynda were to have celebrated their 50^th anniversary this April. He worked for High Grade Beverage as a Corporate Vice President until his retirement. Richard was a communicant of St. Mary of Mt Virgin Church in New Brunswick. He was a member and past president of the Metuchen Golf and Country Club where he spent many days enjoying golf and playing cards with treasured friends.

Richard was an incredible husband and father but his role as Pop to Frank, Abby Rose and Santino was his best. He never missed a school function, sporting event or dance recital. He was their biggest fan and couldn’t have been prouder of them. The smile he would get looking at, or talking about, his grandchildren was absolutely beautiful.

Richard is predeceased by his parents, Marie Rose and Joseph Policastro.

He is survived by his wife Lynda (Rosenberg), his daughter Debra and her husband Frank Almeida, his son Richard and his wife Leyla, his pride and joy, his grandchildren Frank Edward and Abby Rose Almeida and Santino Richard Policastro, as well as his siblings Joseph Policastro and Valerie Fritz.

Visitation will be 3-8pm on Wednesday January 15, 2020 and 8-9am on Thursday January 16, 2020 at the M. David DeMarco Funeral Home Inc. – 205 Rhode Hall Rd., Monroe Twp., NJ  08831.  Funeral services will begin at 9:00am on Thursday from the funeral home.  A funeral liturgy will be 10:00am at St. Mary of Mt. Virgin – 198 Sandford St., New Brunswick, NJ  08901.  Cremation is private. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – www.stjude.org or the Ronald McDonald House – www.rmhc.org.