Former state Assemblyman and North Bergen Commissioner Anthony Vainieri Sr., the father of Commissioner Anthony Vainieri Jr., died at 98 years old yesterday.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, Anthony P. Vainieri Sr., a respected public servant, businessman, and beloved longtime member of our North Bergen family,” North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco said in a statement.
“Throughout our decades-long friendship, he remained deeply committed to serving others, a dedication he demonstrated time and again as a Township Commissioner, a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, and perhaps foremost as the owner of the Vainieri Funeral Home, where he supported families with compassion and dignity during their most difficult moments.”
Sacco further stated that Vainieri Sr. “was a devoted family man” whose legacy lives on through Vainieri Jr., a former Hudson County commissioner and county Democratic party chair, and his daughter, former state Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle.
Vainieri Sr., a U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War II would’ve turned 99 next month, was the township public safety commissioner between 1971 and 1975 and a state assemblyman from 1982 through 1984.
“In 1952, he married his high school sweetheart, the late Natalie née Agresta, and together they built a lasting legacy in their community. He held numerous leadership roles, including President of the North Bergen Midtown Regular Democratic Club, Past President of the West New York Kiwanis Club, Past President of the North Bergen Moose Club, and Standard Bearer of the Anthony P. Vainieri Ladies Auxiliary,” his obituary says.
” … In his later years, he became an avid golfer, joining the White Beeches Golf and Country Club and Boca Woods Country Club. Additionally, he was a music lover and an accomplished violinist and pianist, enjoying playing for his family during the holidays. He also delighted in daily crossword puzzles and became a fan of Facebook.”
Visitation will be held at the Vainieri Funeral Home, located at 5923 John F. Kennedy Blvd., on Tuesday from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. and again on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 12 noon at the Our Lady of Fatima Church, located 8101 John F. Kennedy Blvd in North Bergen.
His Entombment will follow at the Madonna Mausoleum in Fort Lee, located at 2070 Hoefleys Lane.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of his beloved wife Natalie Vainieri may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or a favorite charity.
