Obituary for Peter C. Scarpelli
Former Nutley Mayor
Peter C. Scarpelli, 81 of Nutley, passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2019. Born in Passaic, the son of Peter and Celia (Pignataro) Scarpelli, Peter graduated Nutley High School, Class of 1955, attended Davis & Elkins College of West Virginia, and Rutgers University.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Helen (Kurz) Scarpelli; his children, Patricia and Dr. Joseph Scarpelli and his wife, Suzanne; his daughter-in-law, Catherine; his brother, Vito; 7 grandchildren, Salvatore, Ashley, Stephanie, Arielle, Anthony, Gianna and Jillian, and his great-granddaughter Reina. Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Michael, his grandson, Michael and his brother, Ralph.
Prior to his retirement, Peter was President of Scarpelli & Sons Landscaping Corporation, which was established in 1937 by the late Peter Scarpelli Sr. He was Founder of Meadowlands Landscaping Corp., and the Interior Plant Design; and formerly owned and operated the Jo-Lee Nursery & Garden Center located on the Belleville/Nutley border.
He was a former Superintendent with Weights and Measures of Nutley and a former inspector with the Essex County Shade Tree Commission
A lifelong resident of Nutley, he began to serve this community when he was elected to the Board of Commissioners in November of 1983. In 2000 Peter had the honor of being elected the fourteenth Mayor of the Township of Nutley. It is during this period that he had the privilege of establishing programs such as Family Day and Swing Night. He moved the Fourth of July back to the Nutley Oval and presided over Nutley’s 100th Year Anniversary. In 2004 Peter was re-elected to his 7th consecutive term and served until 2008 completing 25 years in office, before deciding not to run for re-election. Peter is proud that during his tenure in office he worked tirelessly to improve our already exquisite township and strived to preserve the history. He has also served as Secretary to the Essex County Planning Board.
Peter has served and was still active in many community based youth, civic and social organizations including the Third Half Club, Nutley Elks, Knights of Columbus, Nutley Unico, Nutley Chamber of Commerce, Holy Family Church, Chiarello Kidney Foundation and President of the Nutley Friends of Abused Children. He also acquired many awards throughout his years of service, the Mattia Award, the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, and the PBA Silver Card to name a few. He was honored by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities – Elected Officials Hall of Fame for 20 years plus of service to his community.
The funeral will be Thursday at 9:30 a.m. from the S.W. Brown & Son Funeral Home, 267 Centre St., Nutley.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Church in Nutley at 10:30 a.m.
The entombment will follow at Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Visitors will be received at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Scarpelli Civic Association, 80 Bloomfield Ave., Nutley, NJ 07110 or the American Kidney Fund (http://www.kidneyfund.org/) would be appreciated.
Peter C. Scarpelli, 81 of Nutley, passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2019. Born in Passaic, the son of Peter and Celia (Pignataro) Scarpelli, Peter graduated Nutley High School, Class of 1955, attended Davis & Elkins College of West Virginia, and Rutgers University.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Helen (Kurz) Scarpelli; his children, Patricia and Dr. Joseph Scarpelli and his wife, Suzanne; his daughter-in-law, Catherine; his brother, Vito; 7 grandchildren, Salvatore, Ashley, Stephanie, Arielle, Anthony, Gianna and Jillian, and his great-granddaughter Reina. Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Michael, his grandson, Michael and his brother, Ralph.
Prior to his retirement, Peter was President of Scarpelli & Sons Landscaping Corporation, which was established in 1937 by the late Peter Scarpelli Sr. He was Founder of Meadowlands Landscaping Corp., and the Interior Plant Design; and formerly owned and operated the Jo-Lee Nursery & Garden Center located on the Belleville/Nutley border.
He was a former Superintendent with Weights and Measures of Nutley and a former inspector with the Essex County Shade Tree Commission
A lifelong resident of Nutley, he began to serve this community when he was elected to the Board of Commissioners in November of 1983. In 2000 Peter had the honor of being elected the fourteenth Mayor of the Township of Nutley. It is during this period that he had the privilege of establishing programs such as Family Day and Swing Night. He moved the Fourth of July back to the Nutley Oval and presided over Nutley’s 100th Year Anniversary. In 2004 Peter was re-elected to his 7th consecutive term and served until 2008 completing 25 years in office, before deciding not to run for re-election. Peter is proud that during his tenure in office he worked tirelessly to improve our already exquisite township and strived to preserve the history. He has also served as Secretary to the Essex County Planning Board.
Peter has served and was still active in many community based youth, civic and social organizations including the Third Half Club, Nutley Elks, Knights of Columbus, Nutley Unico, Nutley Chamber of Commerce, Holy Family Church, Chiarello Kidney Foundation and President of the Nutley Friends of Abused Children. He also acquired many awards throughout his years of service, the Mattia Award, the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, and the PBA Silver Card to name a few. He was honored by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities – Elected Officials Hall of Fame for 20 years plus of service to his community.
The funeral will be Thursday at 9:30 a.m. from the S.W. Brown & Son Funeral Home, 267 Centre St., Nutley.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Church in Nutley at 10:30 a.m.
The entombment will follow at Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Visitors will be received at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Scarpelli Civic Association, 80 Bloomfield Ave., Nutley, NJ 07110 or the American Kidney Fund (http://www.kidneyfund.org/) would be appreciated.