Joseph LaRiccia Obituary (2021) – Montclair, NJ – The Record/Herald News – Legacy.com

Joseph C. LaRiccia Jr.

Montclair – Joseph C. LaRiccia, Jr., passed away peacefully on March 16th at the age of 83, surrounded by his loving family. Joe was born on January 20, 1938, in Montclair, New Jersey, and was a proud Mountie, playing football for Montclair High School before graduating in 1956. After high school, he earned a degree from Newark Vo-Tech School, before going on to proudly serve his country in the New Jersey National Guard for eight years. He then owned and operated Joseph LaRiccia Plumbing and Heating for 34 years before becoming a plumbing inspector for the townships of Maplewood, Millburn, South Orange, Short Hills, Verona, and West Caldwell. He later served as the assistant building inspector in the Township of Maplewood and the Treasurer of the Essex County Inspectors Association.

Joe received many honors during his long and productive career and served as a respected mentor to countless people. In 2017, he was presented with the “Person of the Year” award by the New Jersey Building Officials Association, and, in 2019, the New Jersey State Plumbing Inspectors Association selected him as the recipient of its prestigious “Plumbing Inspector of the Year” award. Joe was also a member of the Roseland Zoning Board of Adjustment and a plumbing sub code official for the Essex County Board of Appeals. As a result of his years of dedicated service, he earned a lifetime membership in the New Jersey Building Officials Association and the New Jersey State Plumbing Inspectors Association.

Joe enjoyed life to the fullest. He was an avid fisherman, fly fisherman, and woodworker, and he loved spending his time with his family at Via Vita, his country home in Pennsylvania. He will be immensely missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched.

Joe is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years Isabella (Grapes) and his loving and devoted children Joseph (Suzanne), Kelly, Donna (Daniel), and Susan, his loving and devoted grandchildren Nicole Smith (Mike), Joseph Venutolo (Grace), Joseph and Bridget LaRiccia, Daniel, Nicholas, Ryan, Tyler, and Matthew Onove, his great granddaughter Coralai Elizabeth Venutolo,

He was predeceased by his mother, Grace LaRiccia-Marano, father, Joseph C. LaRiccia, his brothers Nicholas and Leonard.

A funeral mass was held on March 20th at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Roseland, N.J. Entombment at Immaculate Conception Cemetery .In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Saint Joseph’s Indian School at stjo.org/flowers P.O. Box 100, Chamberlain, SD 57325.