Joseph Miglino

Joseph Miglino, 81, of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

The firstborn of Gennaro and Carmela (Cetrangolo) Miglino’s two sons, Joseph was born and raised in Italy, in the town of Rutino in the province of Salerno.

When Joe was just five years of age, his father, a Carabinieri, tragically lost his life while on duty during an earthquake tremor near Mount Vesuvius. The tremor caused the opening of the cave he was in to be blocked and, sadly, his father suffocated. Despite losing his dear dad and primary role model, Joe persevered and lived a life that had a positive impact on countless persons who were blessed to have known him.

Between the ages of thirteen and nineteen, Joe spent his summers as a teacher, educating the poorer children of Rutino, some even older than him. When he was sixteen, he was bestowed with a national award, Premio Della Bontá, for his humanitarian effort. Joe’s benevolent nature continued throughout his entire life and, along the way, he proved to be a blessing to family, friends, and countless acquaintances.

After graduating from Istituto Tecnico Industriale in Italy, Joe emigrated to the United States in 1960. Upon landing on American soil, Joe moved into his Aunt and Uncle Cetrangolo’s home on 23rd Street in Paterson, NJ. His first order of business was taking English classes. He was a quick learner and soon secured a job as a tool maker in a machine shop in Paterson. Joe’s leadership skills and spirit of advocacy for fellow workers inspired him to attempt to form a union within that shop. When those efforts fell short, he left his position and joined the United Electrical Union.

Joe met the love of his life, Tina Leo, at St. Michael’s Church in Paterson, at a church sponsored gathering for young Italian immigrants. Soon after, they began a beautiful courtship and Tina even suggested that Joe take a job at a machine shop called United Tool and Stamping Company located right next door to the coat factory she worked at on Andrews Drive in West Paterson. It was the perfect suggestion because it gave them the opportunity to enjoy lunch together every day. Afraid that Tina’s parents would not approve of her seeing Joe, they secretly dated for six months before they got caught. Tina recalls that Joe bought her an LP record to convince her not to break up. Then he mustered up the courage to talk to Tina’s parents. He won them over with his respect and charm, so much so that they wondered why he and Tina kept their relationship so secretive in the first place. Once Tina’s parents accepted Joe, they were considered engaged. They married on Saturday, April 18, 1970 at St. Michael’s Church. It was a sunny but very windy day. After a reception at Natolis on Route 46, the newlyweds honeymooned in the Poconos and then in Italy. Their first home as husband and wife was a second-floor apartment at 101 Totowa Ave in Paterson. From there, along with their six-month old son Daniel, they moved to 281 Paterson Ave in Paterson. While in that home they were blessed with two more children – Debbie and Rino. In 1981 they moved once again, this time into a brand new home in Wayne. Along with friends and family always willing to help, Joe did a lot of the finish work on the house like tiling, painting, and trimming. It was in this home that Joe remained for the rest of his life. Joe’s love for his beloved Tina was immense. A true romantic, every year he bestowed her with a gift on the anniversary of the very first day they met in the church.

Prior to marriage, Joe pursued further education at Farleigh Dickinson University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in linguistics. He was fluent in four of the five romance languages – French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. Immediately after graduating Joe was offered a teaching job but, with a family to provide for, the salary wasn’t enough so he chose to stay with United Tool and Stamping Company and part time with the United Electrical Union. With a heart for the welfare of his fellow workers and the gift of negotiation, Joe was able to convince United Tool to allow its workers to unionize. Most shop owners would oppose such an idea but Joe was such a fair negotiator that, his boss not only agreed, but they remained good friends. Joe enjoyed a career that spanned over forty years until full retirement in 2005.

With time to spare Joe became Tina’s right-hand man in her bridal store in Totowa – Tina’s Bridal. Joe served as her business manager, her “gopher” and her “Jack of all trades.” Retirement also gave him more time to focus on his hobbies including stamp collecting, oil painting on canvas, and painting intricate beach scenes on large seashells. He loved artistic painting and was a huge fan of Bob Ross’ television show, “The Joy of Painting.” Above all, Joe put together a nativity scene every Christmas which became more elaborate every year including running water, lights, and expanding real estate.

Joe was a fantastic father and grandfather who believed that nothing was as important as his family including his nieces, nephews and in-laws whom he adored. Family vacations included many cruises, trips to Hawaii, Italy, Costa Rica, Disney, and summers down the Jersey shore at their family beach house in Brigantine, NJ. He was an incredible “Nonno” to his six cherished grandchildren. It sounds like an old cliché but they truly were the apple of his eye. When they were with Nonno, his grandchildren were his entire world and, like any good grandparent, he and Tina spoiled them like crazy.

A theme quickly emerged when his family was asked to use words to describe Joe – words like sweet, kind, gentle, warm, complimentary, accepting, patient, selfless, compassionate, and benevolent. Wherever he went, Joe had his hands in helping people. Whenever the fellow Italian immigrants that he met in St. Michael’s Church needed help, whether it was applying for citizenship, filling out documents, or anything to help them assimilate into their new communities, they knew he would always be around for them. In 1980, Joe’s wife Tina went to Italy for her father’s funeral. While there, an earthquake struck. Joe left his children with relatives and flew to Italy to be with Tina. The earthquake caused the relocation of many Italian citizens to the United States. Joe helped them relocate, get jobs, and he even gave them rides to and from work.

Sadly, Joe suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease for the past five years. His family looked after him with the same love and compassion that he would have given to one in need. While they mourn his passing, they are grateful that his suffering is over and their hearts overflow with thankfulness for the honor of having him in their lives.

Joe was the beloved husband of Tina (Leo), blessed in marriage for 52 years; loving father of: Daniel and wife Heather Miglino of Hammonton, NJ, Debbie and husband Marc Foti of Wayne, and Rino and wife Lindsey Miglino of Kinnelon; adored grandfather of: Peter Joseph Foti, Julia Foti, Joseph Miglino, Marissa Foti, Alessia Miglino, and Daniel Miglino; dearest older brother of the late Daniel Miglino (2011) and his wife Anna of Italy; dear brother-in-law of: the late Maria (2015) and her late husband Teodoro Pizza, Iolanda and husband Gerardo DeSimone of Wayne, Franca and husband Michael Tafuri of Wayne, and Antonio and wife Joanne Leo of Wayne: and cherished uncle of: Rosaria, Anna, Giuseppe, Federico, Jessie, Luci, Sonia, Joe, Lorena, Pam, Enrico, Michelle, Nick, Sabrina, Jessica, and all their spouses; and dear great-uncle to numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Thursday, December 8, 2022 from 4-8 PM.

Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Friday, December 9, 2022 from the funeral home, then to St. Mary’s R.C. Church, 17 Pompton Ave., Pompton Lakes where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Following the funeral mass, Joe will be laid to rest at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa.