Obituary of Pasquale "Pat" J. Assalone

Retired Deputy Police Chief Pasquale "Pat" J. Assalone, age 68, of Lakewood, formerly of West Paterson, passed away July 25, 2009. Pat was born in NYC on September 19, 1940 to the late Vincent and Jennie Assalone. He attended Holy Angels grade school and Rice High School. He proudly served his country as a member of the US Marine Corp from 1958-1961. He graduated from Morris County Community College with an Associate's Degree and then from William Paterson College with a Bachelor of Science Degree. On September 1, 1968 he joined the West Paterson Police Department where he was a well decorated officer with numerous meritorious service awards and citations from the department. He has been honored by the NJ PBA many times for meritorious service, life saving, and honorable service. He received a Citation Star for Bravery. He played an integral role in the institution of the borough's DARE program in 1991. He rose through the ranks from Patrolmen Badge #7 to Deputy Chief Badge # 101. He was a member of the NJ PBA Local # 173, The Italian American Police Officers Association, The Honor Legion Police Department of NJ, NY, and NYC Transit Police Department. After retiring on December 31, 1997 as Deputy Chief of Police he moved to Lakewood, NJ and became a substitute teacher for the Lakewood Board of Education. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Paterson and St. Mary of the Lake Church in Lakewood. He is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Judy (nee Ruffo) Assalone. Cherished father to Lisa Marie Kozak and her husband Phil and his late son Vincent D. Assalone. Loved grandfather to Shane Assalone and Steven DiPaola, Jr. He is also survived by his mother and father in law, Jennie and Angelo Maratta, brothers in law Angelo and Charles Maratta, sisters in law Sandy and Andrea Maratta, nephews Angelo III and Christopher Maratta, and nieces Charlene, Summer, Bailey Maratta and Audra. Visiting will be Tuesday, 7-9pm and Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9pm at Santangelo Funeral Home, 635 McBride Avenue, Woodland Park, NJ. A funeral Mass will be held Thursday, 11:00am at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 70 Murray Avenue, Paterson. Guests may arrive at funeral home at 10:00am. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.