Obituary of Alfonse D. Tobia

Alfonse D. Tobia passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 28^th at St. Clare’s Hospital in Denville. He had shared 70 years of unconditional love, witty banter, and belly laughs with family and friends.

Born and raised in Newark to Gerry Tobi and the late Alfonse Tobia, he was one of 3 sons to bless the Tobia household. He graduated from Essex Catholic High School Class of 1967 where he excelled at sports, especially track and football, and made lifelong friends. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Montclair State University and his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson. He dedicated his career to the Mortgage Industry as a Mortgage Banker; he even owned and operated his own Mortgage Group in Parsippany for 5 – 6 years before selling it. He recently retired in January from Somerset Savings Bank in Bridgewater after 18 years of hard work. A devout Catholic, he was a member of St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church in Mountain Lakes.

Alfonse was dependable, reliable, strong, resilient, and the greatest dad, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend anyone could ask for. He never skipped a beat when it came to remembering all the details of his loved one’s lives. He was very proud of his Italian heritage and took pride in making stuffed peppers, antipasto, and bringing his family out for a nice meal, especially at his favorite restaurant, Casa Bella. Al had a huge heart for all living things, particularly his adored cats, Ashcroft and Angela. We will always remember him on Sunday mornings reading the NY Post sitting out on the deck soaking up the sun. Although we are saddened by his sudden passing, we take comfort in knowing he is reunited with his father, Alfonse, and we now have two guardian angels looking out for this family.

He leaves only joyful memories to his beloved wife of 19 years, Deborah; his loving children, Alfonse C. Tobia II and his wife Amanda of Rockaway and Jennifer James and her husband Michael of Cedar Grove and Marie Scalamoni Tobia, his first wife and also mother to AJ and Jenn; his cherished granddaughters, Josephine, Aubrey, and Eve; his devoted mother, Gerry; his caring brothers, Stephen of Fairfield and Jody of Nutley; adored nieces and nephews, Stephanie, Gerald, and Joseph; and many more extended family and friends.

All services will be private. Memorial Donations are being accepted in Al’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by way of www.inmemof.org. Please leave a condolence, light a candle, and share your favorite memory of Alfonse here to continue to celebrate the life he shared with us.