Frank J. Gaudioso

Frank J. Gaudioso died peacefully on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, after living 83 years. The only son of Josephine (Doris) and Anthony Gaudioso, Frank was raised in Bogota, New Jersey, surrounded by a large extended family and neighborhood friends. He remained close with many of those friends for the rest of his long life. He was graduated from Bogota High School in 1958 and from Seton Hall University in 1962. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1960 to 1968. In 1965, Frank married his beloved wife, Marie Spinelli, at St. Joseph’s Church, in Bogota. Frank and Marie enjoyed 58 years of marriage, raising their two children, Peter and Jean Marie, in West Milford, New Jersey, in a close-knit, supportive, and loving family. Frank was well known in West Milford for being an active father, supporting his children’s various activities and getting to know, and become loved by, his children’s friends. An outstanding athlete, Frank played many sports in his childhood and adolescent years; in adulthood he joined softball, basketball, and table tennis leagues; he was a skilled racquetball player as well. Frank also coached youth football and served as a basketball referee for many years. Throughout Frank’s life, he and Marie made many lifelong friends, with whom they loved spending time. Before he and Marie had children, they loved taking frequent trips to Bermuda alone and with their close friends, Pat and Stan Graves. He was a devoted son to both of his parents, caring for them in their last years, moving back to Teaneck in 1993 to be closer to them. He also was a devoted son-in-law to Marie’s parents, who loved him as one of their own. Frank was thrilled to become father-in-law to Kiran Handa Gaudioso (Peter) and Christopher Hemmer (Jean Marie), and even more thrilled to become a doting grandfather to Michael and Julia Gaudioso and to Thomas and Andrew Hemmer. Frank was as active a grandfather as he was a father. After a long career in the insurance industry, Frank spent his early retirement providing day care for his grandchildren. Frank thereafter spent countless hours supporting his grandchildren at youth, high school, and collegiate sporting events, dance recitals, band concerts, and school plays, meeting and becoming friendly with his grandchildren’s friends. He and Marie vacationed with their children and grandchildren, and by themselves, revisiting Bermuda and traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, and to many national parks. A devoted fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Football Giants, Frank rarely missed a game (no Sunday family dinners were permitted during football season). Above all else, Frank was most proud of his family. He was always available to help with home improvement projects and to dispense fatherly and grandfatherly advice. Frank’s loving wife, Marie, his devoted children Peter and Jean Marie, his adored children by marriage, Kiran and Christopher, and his grandchildren Michael, Julia, Thomas, and Andrew are heartbroken at his passing, but they will endeavor to carry on in a way befitting his memory – to do their best, to put family first, and to love one another. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in any amount to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Frank’s name.

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