Condolences to Ann and family. Pete was a friend and classmate at Saints and St. Peter’s. 

Julian Radossich

So sorry to hear of the passing of Coach Natale. I was proud to play for his 1971 BCSL Championship team and be the captain of the 1972 7-2 Scarlets. Pete was a tremendous leader and mentor and built RP into the football power it became in the '70's. He had a tremendous influence on my life. RIP Coach!! 

Coach Pete Natale TV interview 1979 
(Fair Lawn HS vs Bloomfield HS TV game)

Dear Ann, June and Debra,
My deepest condolences for the loss of your Husband and Father. 
I hope you can take solace in knowing the many lives that Coach touched is a reflection of his family and the love you gave him.
Thank you for sharing his time and efforts with us all!
I don't think I need to tell you what Coach has meant to me and so many others that have expressed the value of his mentorship, leadership and friendship in previous messages.
I have shared the only photo I have with Coach after 3 years of playing football for him and a lifetime of friendship post HS football. I do, although, have a million memories and great images in my head.
One of my favorite memories of Coach (on many different occasions) is when and how he used to tense his shoulders, grit his teeth, turn bright red and mutter expletives when he would get frustrated with me or anyone else for that matter. Although, at the time, they were very serious points he was trying to convey I really couldn't keep from laughing inside. Coach and I have since laughed about those times and in his own way would laugh at me / with me and then call me an expletive and then we'd have another good laugh!
Great times and great memories that's a very important part of what Coach gave me. Somehow he also wrapped a message into those memories that have helped guide myself and many of us through life.  

Coach Pete Natale................A life well lived!

PS............Coach play nice with Bucky in the sandbox!

Aunt Ann June and Debbie 
I’m going to miss Uncle Pete
Love Lisa Melamed and Ted

Coach was the most respected coach and Teacher. I was lucky enough to have , he was one of the good ones .

Thanks Coach!  Your legend will live on through all the people you touched.  It was my honor being coached by you and then working with you on the same sidelines.  Many of us could write a great book about “Coach”, but I just want to say thanks for now.  Thank you for everything!  

Pete had a soft heart to go with his tough exterior. He never wanted people to know how nice he really was. I really respected him and loved working for him. R. I. P. Mr. Natale

Coach Natale,   Thank you for your guidance during my High School Years .  Your Driver's Education Class always stayed with me.  You were a true class act.

Respectfully,

Barry Leventhal
Sgt. Bergen County Police (Ret)

My deepest thoughts with Ann and family. Pete was a GREAT boss and a better friend. We used to call one another "dinosaurs" because there were so few of us around who felt the way Pete did about HS kids. The world is a lesser place for his passing and those of us who we're lucky enough to have worked with and known him will always remember him.

Bruce Smith
Fair Lawn HS
Alternative School. 

Coach Natale was a great educator and leader of young men. I only had the chance to meet him 2 times but both times he left a great impression on me and he was really interested in how things were going at Fair Lawn. For the players that had the opportunity to play for him what a role model you had leading you during your high school years. Coach will be missed by our entire community.
Cory Robinson
FLHS--Athletic Director

I consider myself one among many that are sadden by the passing of Peter J Natale or “Mr. Natale” as I called him.  
I come from a completely different perspective, as a neighbor and friend on Church Street in Bergenfield from the young age of 4.  I wasn’t aware of all his achievements as a coach or someone that created an alternative school for at risk students, Mr. Natale was truly a humble man.  In addition to “turning boys into men”, I’ve witnessed Mr. Natale’s influence and love in cultivating his two daughters into strong women.  I’ve had the blessing of lifetime relationships with the two greatest gifts Ann and Peter created - Debbie and June.  I visited with the Natales a few days before he passed and saw the love they felt as they tended to him with great care, he knew he was loved!  Their father had a strong presence in their lives with his affection, voluminous laughter, and dedication to his family.  The legacy he created is monumental and will live forever.   
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  


Pete connected with everyone. He had the ability to make his opponents his friends and always had a strategy for victory, Alert with a great sense of humor. Ann and Pete were always a team. We always looked forward to the events that would bring us together again. 

Our world, ESP now, needs more Pete Natale’s, not less.  I  always looked forward to and cherished our talks in the stands, on sidelines, or over a beer.  RIP Coach, wish I could have played for you!  Deb, Ann, and boys we’re always up the path for anything you need…. 

I had the honor and the privilege to  play for,  work with,  and coach for Coach Natale. All at FLHS.  The stories told, the lessons learned are numerous and invaluable.  The husband, father, friend, son, coach, educator, and man I am today has so much to do with his coaching and mentoring.  I am a better person because of Coach Natale.  Yip, he was a tough son of a bitch, and is the absolute definition of "Old School", but what he has instilled in me, my team mates, and coworkers, is irreplaceable.  His memory will never die and stories will forever be told.  My heart is with Ann, Debbie, and the rest of the family. They shared Coach with all the men he had such a positive impact on.    Rest in Peace Coach! 

The themes were the same for all of us here. Hard work. Discipline. Perseverance. If he coached you, you learned those things well. And if you understood his motivations, you’ve continued to carry those qualities with you. Back then, we always knew he would have us prepared for Saturday afternoon. What we didn’t know then was how well he was preparing us for life. Sincere condolences to the Natale family – on behalf of my teammates, we thank you for sharing Coach with us. Please find comfort knowing the indelible mark he’s left on so many. He was a true legend. 
Rest easy… God Bless our Coach. 

                             Chris Davies – Co-Captain, 1986 Fair Lawn Cutters


My dearest friend.  My heart warm condolences goes out to the Natale family.  Pete and I had a complete circle of life together.  It all began in our teen years, playing baseball in Englewood.  We attended the same college, taught at Ridgefield Park High, and shared his 1975 Football State Championship.  Thereafter, our friendship continued as we both entered our 80's.  Pete was the epitome of a man.  His character, attitude, and appearance was one of strength!  He demanded respect and got it.  Rest in peace and some day we will play ball once again.  Tom Maisano, Friend

Coach Natale instilled a disciplined toughness and never ever give up attitude which I carry with me to this day. He stressed the importance of TEAM first and that you must work hard to achieve your goals which have served me well throughout my years. Playing football under Coach Natale was one of the best periods of my life. He will be missed but never forgotten. 
My condolences to Coach Natale’s entire family.
Jimmy Breslin  Tri-Captain 1975 State Champs


Coach - whatever small successes I've achieved in life, is due in no small part to having the good fortune of being coached by you for four years and remaining friends for decades after.  You not only led us to championships, you turned boys into men.  Although the wins were great and an undefeated senior year (your last year coaching) has given us great drinking stories, I am most thankful that you, and your staff, put us all on paths to success in life.  Not many can say that they have had such an impact on so many.  I am forever grateful...we are forever grateful, for crossing paths with you.                                                                                                                                                To the Natale Family, Coach was tough.  But his relentless pursuit of perfection was a lesson to us - the lesson of perseverance.  He was a teacher who taught us to lead, to care, to fight and to never give up.  All qualities that lead to success on and off the field.  Most of all, he motivated us...and still does.  Rest In Peace Coach.                                                                                                           Conrad Olear                                                                                                                                             

Pete Natale - Teacher, Motivator, Coach, Mentor and most of all Seeker of Excellence within you and guiding you to be the best version of yourself. Conditioning you to never give up, EVER! A man who has been one of the most influential individuals in my life from the moment I first stepped foot onto his practice field and to this very day.

My condolences to the Natale Family and may they take solace in the fact that he has enriched perhaps thousands of your men's lives and may he rest in peace, Amen!  God bless PETE NATALE.

Michael J Bavaro - Tri-Captain 
RPHS 1975 Fighting Scarlets - State Champions.

My sincere condolences to the Natale Family for your loss.
Coach Natale with his great leadership and guidance made all of us better players and young men. He truly made RPHS Scarlets Football 'The Best' 
Jeff Schmidt
1973 Co-Capt
1971 BCSL American Division Champions

1975 Football State Champions
My condolences to Mrs. Natale and the entire family. Your husband, father, and grandfather was a great man in my view. What a coach! My teammates and I still hang together because of what we accomplished together under his guidance. I was sick during training camp senior year and Pete called me to see how I was doing. I asked if I would still be a starter and with no hesitation he replied yes. May God hold him forever in heaven.

My condolences to the Natale family. Coach believed in me. He gave a skinny sophomore a chance  and that made all the difference in my future . Coach never minced words. When it was time to choose a college to go play for, it was Coach Pete who asked me, “Do you really think you are going to fit in there?”  Luckily, I listened to  Coach and made a much better choice.   Rest In Peace Coach .

I am sadden by the news of the passing of my former RPHS coach. Pete”s influence on me in my formative years as a young man has carried me and help mold the man I am today. His ability to instill discipline ,hard-work and the belief that you can succeed has done me well.

RIP Coach Natalie


Class of 1975 Football State Champs. Our sincere condolences. God Bless Our Coach.  Capt. Daniel Teel

Pete was head football coach at Fair Lawn High School and Athletic Director. In 1987 he honored me with the assignment of being the football announcer. I'm still enjoying doing it. Both of us are in the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall of Fame and I'll always remember Pete fondly. Dick Engelhardt, Fair Lawn, Nj.

OBITUARY

Peter J. Natale

April 11, 1939 – March 13, 2022

Becker Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Past Services

Visitation

Funeral Mass

Committal Service