Verona lost quite a bit of its history in 2021, particularly its business history. We lost John Alati, who created our summer concert series, Jerry Amadeo, who owned Miele’s restaurant for three decades, and Carol Bukwich, who with her husband George, got Verona back to good health at Center Drugs for almost 50 years.
Ben Leuzzi kept Verona fully stocked in cleats, mitts, balls, bats and, most importantly, hockey skates and sticks, from Verona Sports Center. We mourned the passing of Pat Filoso, Sr.,, who kept Verona green and beautiful with the plants he sold at Hillcrest Farms & Greenhouse, long his family’s business. (The tag line on his Verona High School 1960 yearbook photo reads, “Dad, when do I get paid?”) Dr. Arthur Fost wasn’t a Verona resident, but he kept many of our allergies in check from his office opposite Everett Field. Allergy Consultants remains a Verona family business, as does Miele’s.
The Veronans who passed away in 2021 served our community in many ways, in capacities official and unofficial; some for decades and others for far too short a time. Take a moment to reflect again on the lives they lived:
Vincent “Jimmy” Alvino, Jogged Daily In Verona Park
Carol Anne Bukwich, Co-Owned Center Drugs
Edward F. Butler Jr., Former Verona Lawyer
Michael S. Conte, Retired Educator & Basketball Coach
Dr. Arthur Fost, Prominent Allergist
Deborah Coffey Franklin, VHS ’68
Douglas C. Greene Sr., Former Resident
David G. Hill, Sr., Former Verona Police Officer & First Responder
Ben Leuzzi, Owned Verona Sports Center
Joseph P. McCann, Sr. , Former Resident
John “Jack” McDermott, Former OLL Pastor
Paul McDevitt, Former Verona Schools Employee
Joyce E. McEvoy, Longtime Resident
Michelina “Mickey” Mercuro, 91
Peter T. Mercuro, Dec. 20, 1933 – Aug. 18, 2021
Beverly Mortenson, Former Resident
Henry Orenstein, Brought Transformers To U.S., Then Transformed Poker
Charles T. “Chap” Ostrander, 70
Geraldine “Gerry” Marie Tobia, 94
Lester Hadley Williams, Sr., OLL Parishioner
Judith Zichelli, 83, Former OLL Nurse
MyVeronaNJ publishes, at no charge, obituaries of current and former Verona residents submitted by families and funeral directors. They can be emailed to virginia@myveronanj.com .
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