Obituary of Salvatore P. Piccirillo

Salvatore P. Piccirillo, 89, died January 5, 2023 at home in Kendall Park, NJ.  Born November 26, 1933 in New Brunswick, he was the thirteenth child of the late Vincent and Rosaria Piccirillo.  He was a proud veteran of the US Army and a graduate of Bowling Green State University.  He started his teaching career in Deans, NJ and transferred to East Brunswick High School, retiring after 35 years.  Sal was a member of the Raritan Valley Soccer Officials Assoc., NJ Federation of Umpires, and IAABO.

He refereed High School baseball, softball, basketball and soccer for many years.  He also coached the East Brunswick Girls Basketball team who won the first Middlesex County Championship in 1982.  In addition, he was the assignor for High School soccer officials for 10 years.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers Peter, Joseph, Frank, Louis and John, his sisters Philomena and Helen Piccirillo,  Anna Carson, Angelina Donnini, and Theresa Makosky, his nephew Peter Piccirillo and son-in-law Joseph O’Leary.

He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 63 years, his brother Vincent of Monroe, and his sister Lucy Kelly of New Haven, CT. He is also survived by his son Robert and his wife Tracey, his daughter Sally and husband Michael Kovatch and his daughter Karen O’Leary.  He was proud “Papa” to his 11 grandchildren, Daniel Piccirillo and his wife Alanna, Joseph and Mary Piccirillo, Emily, Katie and Michael Kovatch and his wife Sophia, Shannon Conner and husband Sean, Kelsey Hanna and husband Neal, and Joseph, Kyle, and Lindsey O’Leary.  He is also survived by his two great grandchildren, Claire and Owen Conner.  Left to treasure the memory of “Uncle Sal” are numerous nieces, nephews and  relatives.  One of his favorite quotes was “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Visitation will be held from 2-5pm on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at M.J. Murphy Funeral Home, 616 Ridge Road at New Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12pm on Monday, January 9, 2023 at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, 45 Henderson Road, Kendall Park, NJ 08824. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick.

In lieu of flowers send donations to Tunnel to Towers Foundation 2361 Hylan Blvd. Staten Island NY 10306 or a charity of your choice.