Drew was born on October 12, 1950 in Danbury, Conn. to the late Nick and Elizabeth (Keiper) Fornoro. He was raised in Connecticut and moved to New Jersey in 1962; Drew lived in Rockaway, graduated from Morris Hills High School, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served in the Reserves for six years. He eventually moved to Andover Township in 1982. Prior to his retirement, he was an Ironworker with Ironworkers Local 11 in Newark, N.J. and a race car driver.
Winner of over 100 races, Drew was a 9-time champion in the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) and raced 3/4 midgets, midgets and sprint cars throughout the country. He was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2017 and the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in 2013. Despite his significant accomplishments in racing, Drew's personality was even bigger! He loved interacting with his fans after the races, always a huge smile and kind word. He also loved to orchestrate cookouts in the pits for all of the race teams to enjoy. He held epic events at home during the summer for his extended family and close friends, "Calamari Fests", often had over 100 guests! An assistant football coach at Pope John XXIII Regional High School under Coach Vic Paternostro. Drew also enjoyed hunting and fishing in New Jersey. He hunted in Texas, Colorado, Maine and Canada and fished in Alaska, Florida, and New England. He enjoyed playing golf; his favorite professional sports teams were the NY Yankees, the NY Giants, and AJ Foyt Racing in the IndyCar Series.
The beloved husband of Anne Fornoro for nearly 50 years, Drew is also survived by his daughter, Marie Fornoro; his grandson, Anthony Drew LaFerrara; his brother, Nick Fornoro, Jr. and his wife, Deborah; his sister, Cindee Bertling, his brother-in-law Greg Klar and his nieces and nephews, Michael (Anne), Heather, Jessica (Billy), Nofri, Lanson, Jarett, Tara and J.J.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, May 7, 2023 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High Street, Newton, NJ. A funeral service will be held on Monday, May 8, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with interment to follow at Good Shepherd Cemetery in Green Township.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Checkered Flag Fan Club Injured Drivers Fund, P.O. Box 79, Kutztown, PA 19530 or Father Johns Animal House, 50 Father Johns Lane, Lafayette, NJ 07848. Condolences can be offered to the family online at www.smithmccrackenfuneralhome.com.
