John F. Cerullo, Jr.

John F. Cerullo, Jr., 93, of Clifton passed away peacefully on August 15, 2021.

            Born in 1928 in Newark, NJ to Italian immigrants, John and Anne Cerullo, John was raised in North Arlington and had lived in Clifton since 1955. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the former Newark College of Engineering, now New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and went on to a lengthy and rewarding career as a Mechanical Engineer with the Frank A. McBride Co., formerly located in Hawthorne until his retirement at age 65.  John also enjoyed teaching part-time at Newark College of Engineering for over thirty years. He was a faithful parishioner of St. Philip the Apostle RC Church in Clifton where he was a member of the Holy Name Society, enjoyed their bowling league and served on the Building and Maintenance Committee amongst many others.  In addition, John spiritually led the Widow and Widowers group at church for over 30 years.

In high school John was an avid sportsman and early on was captain of his high school baseball team and was also president of his student council. He was a recreational golfer who loved to play with his friends on the local public links and reap the rewards of the game at the 19th hole. John enjoyed snow skiing with his family and friends until he was 84 years old whether it be on the slopes of the Rockies or Vermont mountaintops. Over the years John enjoyed the Jersey shore and loved wind surfing as well as weekend sailing on his Hunter S170 sailboat on Barnegat Bay.  He was also an avid Giants football fan and enjoyed tailgating with family and friends for over 40 years.

Those who knew John, knew him as a humble man of deep and abiding faith and would often hear him say “God is good all the time.”  This wisdom led John to truly value and appreciate all the gifts he was given in life and selflessly pay it forward to others. Many religious and charitable organizations, as well as individuals, benefitted from his philanthropic donations of professional assistance, personal time and financial resources.

More than anything, John was a loyal and true friend who dearly loved his family and children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

            John Cerullo was predeceased by his loved and dearly missed wife and high school sweetheart, Marjorie (Peggy) T. Reynolds, who passed away on July 16, 1978 as well as by a dear brother, Daniel Cerullo.

            He is survived by his five loving and devoted children: John Cerullo and his wife, Carol, James Cerullo and his wife, Maria, Karen Burka and her husband, Joe, Gail Buletza and Marge Jones and her husband, Doug; his dear sister, Marie Colino; nine loved grandchildren: Clare, Laura, David, Amanda, Matthew, Christopher, Nate, Dan, and Andrew; and cherished great-grandson, Alex.

            Visiting will be Tuesday from 4-8pm at Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, 1313 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton. Funeral Wednesday 9:15am from the funeral home and 10:00am at St. Philip the Apostle RC Church, 797 Valley Road, Clifton. Interment to follow at Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes. Please visit www.bizubquinlan.com for driving directions and to leave online condolences to Mr. Cerullo’s family on the Tribute Wall of his obituary page.

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