Anthony DePaola

Born in Newark, NJ on November 1, 1935, his family moved to East Orange, NJ where he graduated from High School in 1955. Upon graduating, he proudly served in the US Army. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Army, Anthony went on to work for the United States Post Office for 38 years before retiring. Throughout his life, he served as Athletic Director at St. Mary’s High School, Perth Amboy Oratory Prep in Summit, NJ and St. Pius in Piscataway, NJ. He also coached Soccer, Baseball, and Pop Warner Football. He was a football referee, a baseball umpire and basketball official for many years as well as being involved in many local organizations.

Tony was the hardest working member of our Organization for the last 18 years. Tony served many years as a Republican County Committeeman, Berkeley Township Regular Republican Organization President and Berkeley Township Republican Municipal Chairman. In 2011, Tony served as our Campaign Chairman. Because of Tony's leadership, I became the first Republican elected Mayor since 1987.

Tony was the founder of our annual picnic. The first year of our picnic we had under 100 people. That has grown to over 1,000 people last year. For Tony's hard-work and dedication, he was recognized and received the first "Republican of the Year" award a few years back.

In addition to Tony's service to our Party, he has served our community of Berkeley Township, the County of Ocean and the State of New Jersey for nearly two decades.

Tony faithfully served for 9 years as President and Member of the Berkeley Township Board of Education. During his time on the Board of Education, Tony, working with then Superintendent Joseph Vicari, oversaw a 32 million dollar expansion of the district’s schools including the construction of the new state of art Berkeley Township Elementary School. The project came in on time and under budget. As a proud Army Veteran, Tony was instrumental in naming the Auditorium of the new Berkeley Township Elementary School, the Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

Tony also served many years as a member of the Berkeley Township Zoning Board of Adjustment and more recently, as Chairman of the Berkeley Township Planning Board.

Tony also served as Secretary Commissioner of the Ocean County Board of Health. While on the Board of Health, Tony served as Chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee where he oversaw a 10 million dollar expansion of its Sunset Avenue facilities.

Tony was appointed by the Berkeley Township Council in 2010, to serve on the Berkeley Township Sewerage Authority. He has served the last 4 years as its Chairman.

In 2014, Governor Chris Christie appointed Tony to the New Jersey Racing Commission. In 2015, fulfilling a lifelong dream, Tony was appointed to fill a one-year unexpired term on the Berkeley Township Council.

Tony was predeceased by his brother, Dr. Alphonse DePaola and his sister, Marie Giannone. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Dolores; his son, Dr. Anthony DePaola and his wife, Carla of NJ, his daughters; Antoinette DePaola of NJ and Gina and her husband, Joel Russo of NJ. Anthony is also survived by his grandchildren; Aria, Cristina, Anthony, Lauren, Alyse, Joseph, Alena, Gianna and Maria.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the charity of your choice be made in Tony’s memory.

Visitation will be held at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, 26 Mule Rd., Toms River, NJ on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 from 4:00-8:00pm. A Funeral Mass will be 10:30am on Thursday, June 9, 2016 at St. Maximilian Church, Toms River, NJ. Interment will follow at Brig. General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, NJ.