Obituary of Vincent J. Sacco

Vincent "Vinny" Joseph Sacco, 71, passed away peacefully at home on April 29, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born on September 20, 1954 in Staten Island, New York, Vinny was the beloved son of Vincent and Antoinette Sacco. As their “baby brother”, Vinny shared an unbreakable bond with his cherished sisters, Josephine and Lydia.

Vinny earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he forged friendships that would remain important to him throughout his life. He went on to obtain his Professional Engineer (PE) license, building a distinguished career as a Sr. Mechanical Engineer designing nuclear power plants. He was known for his professionalism, exceptional work ethic, and ability to solve highly-complex formulas. Over the years, he worked with several respected companies, including Burns and Roe Inc., Ebasco Services Inc., GPU Nuclear Inc., Entergy Inc., and Enercon Services. Throughout these chapters, he continually built close friendships that felt like family.

In 1987, Vinny met the love of his life, Joanne. Their story began when they met through a mutual friend on the shores of Bradley Beach, New Jersey. From that moment, a beautiful partnership grew. Together, they share more than 38 years of love, laughter, and unwavering support. They eventually settled in Denville, New Jersey, where they built a home and raised their two children, Melissa and Vincent.

Above all, Vinny was a devoted husband and deeply caring father. He had an unlimited amount of love and pride for his family. Throughout the years, he consistently prioritized time with his children, including coaching their sports teams (basketball, baseball and soccer), attending cross country and track meets, piano and dance recitals, and even building a first-place pinewood derby car for his son’s Cub Scouts. If it was an opportunity to show his love and support for his children, you could count on Vinny being there.

His family remembers him as a man of kindness, patience, and quiet strength. Some of their most treasured memories were made during family vacations, exploring places near and far, including England, Canada, Alaska, and especially Bermuda, which holds a special place in their hearts.

Vinny also found great joy in life’s simple pleasures, such as serving as the family grill master or making his famous chocolate chip pancakes on weekends. He was a passionate fan of the New York Mets, Jets and Knicks, loyally cheering from home or at the game. He and Joanne also shared a love for attending concerts and stand-up comedy shows.

Vinny will be remembered for his humor, warmth, integrity, and the love he gave so freely to those around him. He leaves behind a legacy of devotion to family, dedication to his work, and a life well lived. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved him. Vinny is survived by his beloved wife, Joanne Sacco (Drozd), his children, Melissa Sacco, Vincent Sacco, his sister, Lydia Madalone and her husband Anthony, his brothers-in-law, Richard Ricci, Richard Drozd and his wife Roxana, and Raymond Drozd and his wife Patricia, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will remember his fondly. He is now reunited in Heaven with those who passed before him; his sister, Josephine Ricci, and his parents, Vincent Sacco and Antoinette Sacco (D’Amico).

If you would like to contribute to Vincent’s life in your own way, please consider making a charitable contribution to either the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons. Donations can be made by clicking the links above.

Hours of public visitation for Vincent are scheduled for Monday, May 4, from 5 to 8 PM at Norman Dean Home for Services. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, May 5, at 10 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 15 Myer’s Ave, Denville, NJ. Please join us to celebrate Vincent’s life, and please leave a condolence, share a memory, or light a candle below to continue to let Vincent’s light shine!

*If you are unable to join us at Mass, you can watch the celebration any time via St. Mary's YouTube page, or by clicking here.