Obituary of CHARLES J. SABATINO

Mr. Charles J. Sabatino, known to all as "Chaz", died peacefully, Sunday evening, February 13, at his home following a valiant battle with lung cancer. He was 76. Born and raised in Boonton, he had lived most of his life there before moving to the Lake Hiawatha section of Parsippany in 1979. Mr. Sabatino served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He learned the meat cutter trade from his late father Arthur Sabatino Sr. They had worked together in the family businesses Sabatino's Quality Market and later Main Meat market both in Boonton for many years. He had subsequently worked as a meat cutter with the ACME Supermarket in Parsippany and the Shop Rite Supermarket in West Orange before retiring 11 years ago. Mr. Sabatino had also concurrently worked as a bartender at Bevacqua's Reservoir Tavern in Parsippany for over 30 years retiring in 2001. An accomplished musician, Mr. Sabatino had played the drums with various jazz bands including the Penthouse Serenaders and the Herbie Messenger Jazz band. He also played in the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps. He was a longtime member of Saint Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Parsippany, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Gus Ginder Post # 242, American Legion Post # 124, the Knights of Columbus Walter Barrett Council #1954 and the Boonton Chapter of UNICO National, all in Boonton. He was also a member of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen Northern NJ Chapter Local 1245 and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union AFL-CIO Local 464. Survivors include: His loving wife of 21 years Priscilla(nee Walker) Sabatino; a son, Arthur Sabatino of Sea Isle City; six daughters, Suzanne Vetrero of Rockaway, Maryann Donahue of Wildwood, Jacquelyn M. Saunders of Boonton, Virginia "Ginny" Saunders of Lake Hiawatha, Holly M. Cordasco of Boonton, and Ronda M. Saunders of Lake Hiawatha; two brothers, Eugene Sabatino of Boonton and Arthur Sabatino of Kenvil; two sisters, Domenica F. Balazs of Florida and Rose Di Ello of Boonton; 11 grandchildren and 1 great-grand daughter.