Obituary for Ronald J Rotanelli
Ronald J. Rotanelli, a long-time resident of Manchester, NJ and most recently of Shrewsbury, NJ passed away peacefully on August 24, 2022 at Arbor Terrace surrounded by his family after a series of illnesses that never once diminished his positive spirit.
Ron was born on May 17, 1935 (a birthdate later shared by his daughter Lynne) and raised in the Calhoun Avenue section of the Bronx, attending Christopher Columbus High School. Upon graduation, Ron was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent half-way around the world to Korea, where he served with distinction in the 17th Infantry Regiment defending the soon-to-be-created demilitarized zone (DMZ). As recently as a week before he passed, Ron recounted in riveting detail stories of his time on the front line, where he intentionally missed while shooting at enemy targets because he never wanted to hurt anybody.
Ron’s greatest passion was his family, starting with Jean, his beloved wife and closest friend of more than 65 years who passed away last year. Jean and Ron married in 1957 after waiting almost two years for Ron to return from active duty (upon learning he had been drafted, Ron asked Jean’s father if they could marry before he left; the answer was no, making his time away that much more excruciating). Upon his return, Ron worked for many years as a butcher with the UFCW Local Union 174, first as a Manager for several New York City supermarkets and later as the proprietor of his own shop, Meateria in Manhattan. After suffering a near fatal heart attack in 1980, Ron made a career change, moving to the accounting department of the Random House Publishing Company in Midtown where he continued to work for years.
Jean and Ron settled in River Vale, NJ and started a family, first daughter Lynne Rotanelli Ward who currently resides in Rumson, NJ with her husband Hugh and shortly thereafter son Ronald Jr. who lives in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. They enjoyed many decades of happiness in that expanded duplex on River Vale Road with their wonderful neighbors. When it was time to downsize, Ron and Jean became snowbirds, splitting their time between homes in Manchester, NJ and Stuart, FL. A timeshare in Aruba provided decades of wonderful memories at Eagle Beach. A long, 2007 family vacation to Lake Como and thru the Italian Riviera, Ron’s proud Italian homeland, would prove to be the trip of a lifetime.
Ron befriended everyone he met, taking a genuine interest in anyone while asking many personal questions without ever once mentioning anything about himself. Ron was a car and motorcycle enthusiast, once riding his Harley Davidson cross-country and meticulously maintaining the Ford Mustang convertible he received as a gift for his 75th birthday. And he loved his pets, especially his beloved Pumpkin and Roxy and later acted as a foster parent for Ziggy.
Ron’s proudest achievement may be his two grandchildren, Kyle Ward of Rumson and Madison Ward of New York City who will both be forever inspired by his understated courage, unselfish nature and integrity.
Ron was predeceased by his parents, his father Angelo and his mother Helen Arrigo. Ron has three siblings: his sister Helene who lives in Katonah, NY with her husband Aldo Parcesepe, only brother Richard who resides in Clearwater, FL and younger sister Dorothy of Manchester, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, please send any donations in Ron’s memory to the Monmouth County SPCA, 260 Wall St, Eatontown, NJ 07724. Visitation will be held Monday 11AM-12PM at Oliverie Funeral Home, 2925 Ridgeway Rd, Manchester, with a Graveside Service to follow at Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River.
Ron was born on May 17, 1935 (a birthdate later shared by his daughter Lynne) and raised in the Calhoun Avenue section of the Bronx, attending Christopher Columbus High School. Upon graduation, Ron was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent half-way around the world to Korea, where he served with distinction in the 17th Infantry Regiment defending the soon-to-be-created demilitarized zone (DMZ). As recently as a week before he passed, Ron recounted in riveting detail stories of his time on the front line, where he intentionally missed while shooting at enemy targets because he never wanted to hurt anybody.
Ron’s greatest passion was his family, starting with Jean, his beloved wife and closest friend of more than 65 years who passed away last year. Jean and Ron married in 1957 after waiting almost two years for Ron to return from active duty (upon learning he had been drafted, Ron asked Jean’s father if they could marry before he left; the answer was no, making his time away that much more excruciating). Upon his return, Ron worked for many years as a butcher with the UFCW Local Union 174, first as a Manager for several New York City supermarkets and later as the proprietor of his own shop, Meateria in Manhattan. After suffering a near fatal heart attack in 1980, Ron made a career change, moving to the accounting department of the Random House Publishing Company in Midtown where he continued to work for years.
Jean and Ron settled in River Vale, NJ and started a family, first daughter Lynne Rotanelli Ward who currently resides in Rumson, NJ with her husband Hugh and shortly thereafter son Ronald Jr. who lives in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. They enjoyed many decades of happiness in that expanded duplex on River Vale Road with their wonderful neighbors. When it was time to downsize, Ron and Jean became snowbirds, splitting their time between homes in Manchester, NJ and Stuart, FL. A timeshare in Aruba provided decades of wonderful memories at Eagle Beach. A long, 2007 family vacation to Lake Como and thru the Italian Riviera, Ron’s proud Italian homeland, would prove to be the trip of a lifetime.
Ron befriended everyone he met, taking a genuine interest in anyone while asking many personal questions without ever once mentioning anything about himself. Ron was a car and motorcycle enthusiast, once riding his Harley Davidson cross-country and meticulously maintaining the Ford Mustang convertible he received as a gift for his 75th birthday. And he loved his pets, especially his beloved Pumpkin and Roxy and later acted as a foster parent for Ziggy.
Ron’s proudest achievement may be his two grandchildren, Kyle Ward of Rumson and Madison Ward of New York City who will both be forever inspired by his understated courage, unselfish nature and integrity.
Ron was predeceased by his parents, his father Angelo and his mother Helen Arrigo. Ron has three siblings: his sister Helene who lives in Katonah, NY with her husband Aldo Parcesepe, only brother Richard who resides in Clearwater, FL and younger sister Dorothy of Manchester, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, please send any donations in Ron’s memory to the Monmouth County SPCA, 260 Wall St, Eatontown, NJ 07724. Visitation will be held Monday 11AM-12PM at Oliverie Funeral Home, 2925 Ridgeway Rd, Manchester, with a Graveside Service to follow at Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River.