Obituary of Angelo Richard Spinola
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Angelo Richard Spinola of Denville died on June 2, 2010, at Compassionate Care Hospice in Dover nine days after suffering a stroke. He was 94 years old.
Mr. Spinola, affectionately known by his friends as Spinny, was born on July 7, 1915, in Agira Sicily, and emigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of six. Settling in Newark, Mr. Spinola attended Newark Public Schools and graduated from South Side High School. He received a B.A. from the University of Alabama and an M.A. from Seton Hall University.
Mr. Spinola served in the U.S. Army during World War II in several European campaigns. His 38-year career as an educator in the Denville School System began in 1948 as a teacher of social studies at Main Street School. In 1952 he was appointed principal of Main Street School and became Denville School Superintendent in 1958.
After 29 years as superintendent, Mr. Spinola retired in 1986. However, with a continuing love for educating children, he began a second career as a substitute teacher at Frelinghuysen Middle School in the Morris School District where he remained until 2005.
Mr. Spinola was a 34-year member of the Denville Rotary Club where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also the recipient of the 1995 Morris County Living Treasure award sponsored by St. Francis and the Morris County Chapter of AARP. He was an avid sports fan, especially of the New York Yankees and the University of Alabama Football Team. However, his greatest love was his devotion to his family.
Mr. Spinola is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-three years, Mary (Blasi), his daughter Judith of Denville, his sisters Grace Balfour of Irvington and Mary Barone of Mounstainside, his brother Anthony Spinola of Point Pleasant, many loving nieces and nephews and lifelong friends and neighbors.
Funeral Services from Norman Dean Home for Services 16 Righter Ave Denville, NJ will take place on Tuesday June 8, 2010 at 9:00 AM for a 10:00 AM Liturgy of Christian Burial at St. Virgil's Church in Morris Plains, NJ. Friends may visit on Monday from 2-4 & 7-9PM. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Denville Rotary Foundation for the Richard A. Spinola Rotary Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 35 Denville, NJ 07834 or to the Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey Inc. 38 Elm St. Morristown, NJ 07960. Please light a candle in memory of Mr. Spinola at www.normandean.com.
