http://www.legacy.com/NorthJersey/DeathNotices.asp?
Page=LifeStory&PersonId=117819910
http://tinyurl.com/3e6xsu
John J. Cariddi
CARIDDI Honorable John J., of Mahwah, NJ and Jensen Beach, FL, died September 18, 2008 at his home in Jensen Beach, FL. Born in the Province of Reggio Calabria, John was raised in a small village of 850. At the age of 5, John’s family immigrated to the United States settling in Hackensack, NJ, where he lived until May, 1986. Graduating from Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY, where he majored in Political Science, he decided that the practice of law was his calling. Enrolling in the University of Miami, Florida Law School, his scholastic abilities enabled him to graduate in the top ¼ of his class. In 1943, after having graduated from college where he was in the US Army Air Force Reserve, John was called to active duty and shipped overseas to the largest Air Force Base (8th Air Force) as a Criminal Investigator with the Provost Marshall’s Office. He remained there for four years, where he met his wife, Joyce, a lovely and talented English woman. John and Joyce were married in 1947, and finally returned to the United States to resume their life.
John became an attorney in 1955 and was an active trial lawyer, primarily in Criminal and Matrimonial areas of the law. The New York Times referred to him in a prominent article as “one of the five best Criminal Trial Lawyers in the State of New Jersey”. During his practice at various times, five of his associates became prominent attorneys, and several hold public office. In 1971, Governor Cahill nominated John to the Bergen County District Court where he served with distinction before being elevated to the Bergen County Court in 1972. Subsequently, he was appointed to the Superior Court, having served for about 16 years on the Bench. During the years from 1955 to 1971, John served various municipalities as Prosecutor for the City of Hackensack, Borough of Little Ferry, Township of South Hackensack, and the Borough of Midland Park. He was also appointed City Attorney for the City of Hackensack in 1968. During this period of time, he also served as Secretary to the Minority Leader of the New Jersey Assembly. John retired from the bench on August 1, 1986, and is now associated with the law firm of Galantucci and Patuto of Hackensack as “Of Counsel”. In September, 1986, the firm was appointed City Attorney for Hackensack.
John was a member of St. Paul’s RC Church, Ramsey. He was past commander of VFW Post 55, Demarest, NJ and was a member of the Palisades Park Chapter UNICO.
John is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Joyce (nee Dutton) Cariddi of Mahwah, NJ and Jensen Beach, FL and his two sons; Robert Cariddi of Palm City, FL and Frank Cariddi of Mahwah, NJ and two grandchildren, Mackenzie and Frankie John Cariddi, of Mahwah, NJ. Also surviving is his brother, Thomas Cariddi of Mahwah, NJ and two sisters; Francis Zoccoli of Ramsey, NJ and Rose Capaci of Mahwah, NJ. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, 10 AM at St. Paul’s RC Church, 200 Wyckoff Ave., Ramsey, NJ. Interment will follow in Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ. Visiting is Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 PM, at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ www.vpfh.com. In memory of John, memorial contributions may be made to the Treasure Coast Hospice, 1202 SE Indian St., Stuart, FL 34997 or at 772-403-4530 or at www.tchospices.org.
# - # - #
Dear John,
I believe that the Judge is a member of the Class of 1969.
May He Rest In Peace.
Mike
[JR: Thanks, Mike. Much appreciated. ]
# - # - #
Cariddi, John J. [MC1969]
Guestbook: http://tinyurl.com/4kmuzj
# - # - #
North Jersey Media Group
John Cariddi, 88, retired state judge
Sunday, September 21, 2008
BY NICK CLUNN STAFF WRITER
John Cariddi, a respected criminal trial lawyer in Hackensack who became a judge on the state Superior Court, died Thursday on his 88th birthday at his home in Florida.
Mr. Cariddi began his law career in 1955 after an overseas tour with the U.S. Army Air Forces Reserve during World War II and then earning a law degree from the University of Miami.
While his first clients — drunken drivers and number runners — were walk-ins to his Main Street office, Mr. Cariddi built his business on reputation and recommendations, said his son Robert of Palm City, Fla.
He later spent 16 years as a state Superior Court judge in Hackensack.
Taking time to prepare for cases — as a judge and a litigator — helped Mr. Cariddi to rise to the top of his profession, his son said.
” ‘Always come prepared,’ that’s what he always said to me,” Robert Cariddi said. “If you don’t have the facts in your favor, you have to argue the law.”
Before becoming a judge in 1971, Mr. Cariddi worked as a prosecutor in Hackensack, Little Ferry, South Hackensack and Midland Park.
Mr. Cariddi, a Republican, also worked in the State House as a key legislative aide.
Outside the courtroom, Mr. Cariddi dedicated himself to veterans’ affairs. He served as commander of American Legion Post 55 in Hackensack. He also belonged to a chapter of Unico an Italian-American service organization, in Palisades Park.
Both Robert Cariddi and Frank Cariddi of Mahwah recalled attending Jets football games with their father as some of their fondest childhood memories.
It was during one game when Mr. Cariddi only had 10 tickets for 11 guests that he somehow managed to get everyone through the turnstiles, Robert Cariddi said.
“He was a little bit of a character that way,” he said.
Mr. Cariddi’s sons also remembered their father as being tremendously organized. The pile of magazines in the living room, for instance, was arranged according to size.
“I used to call him Mr. Perpendicular and Mr. Parallel,” Frank Cariddi said.
Mr. Cariddi was raised in a small, southern Italian village until the age of 5, when his family immigrated to the United States and settled in Hackensack.
He graduated from Hackensack High School in 1939 and went on to Manhattan College, where he graduated with a degree in political science and a determination to attend law school. But World War II intervened.
He began active duty in 1943 and was shipped to Manchester, England, where he investigated crimes against military and civilian personnel stationed at the Army Air Forces’ largest base.
During his four years in Manchester, Mr. Cariddi met his wife, Joyce. The couple married in England in 1947 and returned to the United States, where he completed his education.
Mr. Cariddi graduated from the Miami law school in the top 25 percent of his class.
The Cariddis, who had been married 62 years, spent many years in Hackensack before moving to Mahwah. After his retirement, Mr. Cariddi spent the winter months in Jensen Beach, Fla.
In addition to his wife and sons, Mr. Cariddi is survived by a brother, Thomas Cariddi of Mahwah; two sisters, Francis Zoccoli of Ramsey and Rose Capaci of Mahwah, and two grandchildren.
A Funeral Mass will be held on 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, in Ramsey. Interment will follow in Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff.
Find this article at:
http://www.northjersey.com/obituaries/29036914.html?c=y&page=2
# # # # #
