Joseph Amato

Joseph C. Amato, 85, of Toms River passed away on Saturday January 25th, 2014 at Community Medical Center. Born in Jersey City, he resided there until 1994 when he moved to Toms River. He was a United States Navy Veteran and owned and operated Amato Seafood in Jersey City for over 50 years. He was predeceased by his brothers and sisters Anthony, Gennaro, Olympia, Emma and Mary. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years Anna (nee De Corso), children Joseph C. Amato Jr. and wife Theresa of Westfield, NJ, Gary Amato and wife Cathy of Warrenton, Virginia, Patricia Mariconda and husband Michael of New City, NY, Maryann Amato of Jersey City, NJ, and Gerard Amato and wife Trish of Monmouth Junction, NJ, grandchildren Jennifer, Christy, Nicole, Joseph, Sara, Laura, Matthew, Gerard Jr., Michael, Neil, Nicholas and Steven and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Tuesday January 28th, 2014 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, 26 Mule Road, Toms River, NJ 08755. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday January 29th, 2014 at 11:30am at St. Maximilian Kolbe R.C. Church in Berkeley Township, NJ. Interment will be private. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.quinn-hoppingfh.com.

A Eulogy

These are the most difficult words I have ever spoken.

Here lies my father.

What can you say about the man whose first gift to you was your very existence?

Well, I’ll tell you a few things:

• He was a relatively healthy man three short weeks ago. We were with him the whole time. He didn’t linger, he just simply checked-out. I don’t think he even realized the end was coming. That’s the way he always wanted it. I hope I’m as a lucky.

• And He kept his wits about him every step of the way. He never lost any of it, not even after 85 years. In fact, “wits” is an understatement. My Dad had brain-power. He could easily sort out complicated problems in his head. In “Amato” parlance he had “NA” - Natural Ability.

I would frequently call him early on a Sunday morning and ask if he understood the “Ask Marilyn” question. “Ask Marilyn” is a syndicated column in the Sunday newspaper. In the column there are frequently a statistical – type questions; and they’re often not so simple as they might seem. He could get right through them. It was a gift and he had it.

And that’s the way we will always remember him - sharp; vibrant; witty right to the very end.

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What he always pushed his children for was to be the best we could be. That’s the only thanks he ever wanted. I know he was quite proud of all of us with our own achievements and successes, not to mention the dozen grandchildren we gave him.

What we have here is the end of an era; he was the last one of his kind / the last one of his family. Who now takes his place – he would want to know that. Well guess what: we all do – especially all the young people I see right now. He is passing a baton to each of us. You can’t see it but it’s there. Open up your hearts, reach out; embrace it. For it conveys Character, Respect, Discipline. Hold it close at all times. Continue to make him proud.

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As I looked down at my father’s deathbed and saw him lying there - so quiet, so still, I tried to burn his image into my mind - I knew that it would be one of the last times on earth I would ever see him again. A thought then came to me; something that I hadn’t thought to myself since I was a child. It came back to me quite clearly: Of all the men I’ve ever known, there could be none greater than this man I see before me.

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Let me end on a refreshing note. As we watched Dad in the hospital begin his decline, we would frequently hear a chime from the nurses’ station. We asked what it meant. The nurse said the chimes went off every time a child was born at the hospital. How fitting! As Dad’s life ended, another life had just begun. And that’s the way life goes. And if you have faith, then you know that Dad has just begun his new life and that we will surely all meet again. So I won’t say goodbye Dad but just that I will see you around. “Ab”, Dear Dad. God Bless You.

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I Am as Always, Number One Son, Joseph.