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Mario Pompei, 91, of Manahawkin, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on September 1, 2022.
Mario was the youngest of 12 children, born and raised in Newark, NJ. As you would expect, this large Italian family spent much time around the dinner table, especially since their mother, Raphaela, was such an excellent cook. Mario inherited his mother’s love of gardening and cooking and shared that love with his family and friends over the years.
He joined the US Army during the Korean Conflict in 1950, where he was stationed in Alaska for three years. Mario was, of course, an Army cook.
He met his beautiful wife Dolores in Asbury Park during the summer of 1954. They were married on September 16,1956 and moved to East Orange where their three children, Mark, Glenn and Lori were born. In 1967 Mario and Dolores moved the family to East Hanover where they spent the next 30 years. There was always a lot of activity going on in the Pompei house, raising three children along with a variety of pets including dogs, ducks and rabbits.
Mario worked for JJ Dorchester for 22 years, which kept him on the road for many long hours during the week, but had many outside interests that kept him busy on the weekend. He loved to fish and hunt and spent many weekends camping with his family and traveling to various trap shooting competitions.
The Pompei family always loved vacationing at the Jersey Shore and bought a summer home in Manahawkin in 1980. They spent most weekends there going out on their boat and entertaining family and friends. In 1996 they moved to Atlantic Hills where they finally retired. Mario immersed himself in his community. He participated in every special event and you could always find him in the clubhouse kitchen where he did most of the cooking. In his later years, he was just happy spending time in the clubhouse shooting the breeze with his close group of friends.
Mario spread kindness and generosity to everyone he met. His love of food and cooking was contagious and he shared that love with his family and friends. Mario would prepare a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner every year. Over the years that table grew to include more and more people, both family and friends.
Sadly missed along life’s way, quietly remembered every day, no longer in our life to share, but in our hearts you’re always there.
Devoted father of Mark Pompei, Glenn Pompei and Lori Hopkins. Proud grandfather of Marc and Nicole. Dear brother of Beatrice Pompei. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Mario was pre-deceased by his wife Dolores (Volpone) Pompei, his parents Arthur and Raphaela Pompei, 10 siblings and his daughter-in-law Lori Pompei.
Visitation at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park on Tuesday from 4-8pm. Funeral on Wednesday assembling at 10am followed by a prayer service at the funeral home at 10:30am. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mario’s name to the American Heart Association, see donation box below for details….
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Mario Pompei, please visit our Tree Store.
American Heart/ Stroke Association
P.O. Box 840692, Dallas TX 75284-0692
Tel: 1-800-242-8721
Web: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/