John Gagliano

John J. Gagliano of Union, NJ passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 30, 2013. Mr. Gagliano was the beloved husband of Rose Marie Scioscia Gagliano who predeceased him in 1992. John joins the love of his life where they will be together forever. He leaves his three children, Judy Gagliano DeMarco and her husband Peter, Cindy Gagliano Anders and her husband Robert, and Robert Gagliano and his wife Lori. His grandchildren, Michael, Robert, and Emily Anders and Jamie and Christopher Gagliano, will miss him dearly. John Gagliano was also predeceased by his parents Eleanor and Joseph Gagliano. John also leaves behind his sister-in-law Lucille Scioscia Duffy and her husband Robert and his brother-in-law Anthony Scioscia and his wife Karen, along with many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

John was born in Jersey City, NJ on February 3, 1923. He served in the United States Navy as a seaman first class during World War II in both the European and Pacific theatres. In the European theatre he served as a gunner on a merchant ship that was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of England. Thereafter, as a crewman aboard the U.S.S. Ticonderoga, he fought in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. He was awarded the Bronze Star for an act of bravery by saving a Navy airman who crashed on deck. As the pilot's airplane became engulfed in flames, he jumped on the wing and freed the pilot from the cockpit.

John worked for Continental Can Company in Paterson for 35 years as a quality control inspector. He retired in 1982.

John was an avid reader, photographer, painter, wood carver, and angler. His skill at tying flies and fly casting was remarkable to all those that had the pleasure to have fished with him.

Visiation will be held on Wednesday April 3, 2013 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM from the McCracken Funeral Home 1500 Morris Ave Union NJ. Funeral mass will be offered at St. Michael's Church, Union on Thursday April 4 at 10:15AM with interment to follow at Hollywood Memorial Park, Union. In lieu of flowers, donations in John's name maybe made to the Amyloidosis Foundation at www.amyloidosis.org