Obituary of Elmer Grossi

Grossi, Elmer Joseph age 97 of Paterson at rest in Wayne on April 4, 2016. Elmer is predeceased by parents Carmine and Lucia (Luce), sister Carmella and brothers Anthony, Carmine Jr., and Joseph. He is survived by daughter Lucia "Chia" Zubizarreta of Westfield and son Mark Grossi and wife Marie Michelle of Wake Forest, NC; granddaughters Nicole and Kelly Zubizarreta of Westfield, grandsons Evan Grossi of Philadelphia, Pa and Ryan and wife Andrea Grossi and great grandsons Olandrik and Lockewyn of Sacramento, Ca. Elmer was born in Paterson and was a lifelong resident. He served with the US Coast Guard in WW II aboard the troop transport USS Wakefield, and later aboard the Destroyer Escort USS Mills. Elmer returned home and attended Montclair College and Columbia University. He was employed by the Paterson Housing Authority for 26 years and retired as Executive Director in 1981. He was then appointed as Chairman of the Paterson Parking Authority and served in that position from 1989 to 1993. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph's Hospital, Paterson. He was a two-time President of the Italian Circle, and the Vice President of the Franklin Club. He was a member of the VFW and Bernard Armitage American Legion Post. He was a lector and head usher at St. Gerard Church, Paterson and was also the former President of the Paterson Old Timers Little League. Elmer was a long time Yankee fan and a New York Times Crossword Puzzle devotee. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd, Totowa, on Friday at 10:30 AM. Funeral Mass to follow at St. Gerard RC Church, Paterson at 11:00 AM. Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa. Friends may visit Thursday 4:00 - 8:00 pm. For more information, go to www.festamemorial.com.