Fred Mazzilli

Fred Mazzilli, 94,  passed away peacefully on April 19 surrounded by his loving wife and children. Born in Bayonne in 1929, Fred first entered the workforce working on his father’s ice truck, then bartending at the family business, and eventually working his way through college to obtain a Bachelors Degree in electrical engineering at Brooklyn Polytechnical Institute and a Masters Degree from Stephens Institute of Technology.  His early career took him overseas working on radar systems on naval aircraft carriers and eventually he became an executive at a startup in New York City that provided computer processing in the days before personal computers.

Fred was truly a lifelong learner, and at an age when most people retire he embarked on a new career in insurance, obtaining several certifications and working in the insurance services field. He was a pioneer as a “remote worker” as far back as the late 90’s, arranging to work half the year in the office in NJ and half the year from his beloved winter home in Naples, Florida. Fred retired in 2022 at the spry young age of 92.

Aside from his career Fred served as a volunteer firefighter in Wyckoff, NJ for 50 years and remained active in local politics his entire life, including a run for Wyckoff town council. He was a part of countless civic activities including his many turns as the one true Santa Claus. Later in life he took great pride in the accomplishments of his grandchildren attending many of their sporting events cheering them on to the very end.

We will miss his love of “Dad jokes”, always punctuated with a laugh of pure joy, but above all we will miss his generosity, kindness, wisdom, and genuine love of family and friends.  His impact on this world can only be measured in how he inspired those of us around him to live by those same qualities. Fred was beloved beyond measure by his wife of 62 years Kathleen, son Peter Mazzilli and wife Pat, son Joseph Mazzilli and wife Deana, daughter Anna Kurtz and husband George, and daughter Lillian Turano and husband Dan, as well as his 12 grandchildren: Katheryn, Fredrick, Anthony, Alexander, Alexandra, Allegra, Joseph, Kathleen, Luciana, Daniel, Grace, and Giovanna. He had four younger siblings, including Otto Mazzilli (deceased), and is survived by brother Vincent Mazzilli and wife Lorraine and sisters Nancy D’Antonio and Angie Burti.  Fred had many sayings and pearls of wisdom, but the most meaningful was the simple “It’s nice to be nice.”

Memorial contributions in Fred's name may be made to; Missionaries of Charity, 168 Sussex Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103 or Oasis - A haven for women and children, 59 Mill Street, Paterson, NJ 07501.

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