Edward Joseph Degeorgis

Edward Joseph Degeorgis passed away Friday, February 8, 2019 at JFK Medical Center in Edison, NJ.  A long time resident at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home-Menlo Park in Edison, NJ, he was 91.

Ed was the son of the late Joseph and Renee (Grugeard) Degeorgis.  His dad was born Giuseppe [Joseph] in Fubine, Italy to Bertoldo  Degiorgis, from Refrancore, northern Italy and Angela Maria Mortara, Fubine, Italy.  His mom was born in NYC, NY in 1897 to Frederick Grugeard from France, and  Jeanne Virgine. Picart, from France.  He was born at 592 13th Street in West New York, NJ on December 28, 1927.  Ed was employed with New Jersey Bell Telephone Company for almost 36 years, as a Lineman, toll switching office supervisor, and plant school instructor.

While living at 1200 86th St in North Bergen, NJ he worked for West New York Loan Company as a clerk from January 1944 – January 1945.  He enlisted in the US Navy in January 1945.  He went to Sampson Naval Training Center in NY for 11 weeks of recruit basic training.  He then spent 22 weeks at United States Naval Training Center, Bainbridge (USNTC Bainbridge) at Port Deposit, Maryland, on the bluffs of the northeast bank of the Susquehanna River, for Radio school.  Afterwards, he went to Bremerton, WA to be shipped out to the Asia-Pacific Theater.  He served on the USS Genesee (AOG-8) Gasoline Tanker, USS PC1125 Patrol Submarine Chaser. When his war time enlistment ended in August 1946, he went back to High School.  He enlisted again in the US Navy from February 1947 till February 1952. Once again he was a radio operator, but this time 1st Class. He served on the USS Kankakee (AO-39) Fleet Oiler, and later on at Naval Air Transportation Services Squadron 7 (VR7) on Guam Island as a headquarters squadron with detachments in Manila in the Philippine Islands, Shanghai, China, and Tokyo, Japan, transporting priority cargo and personnel.

He was given an Honorable discharge and earned the Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Occupational Service Medal-Asia-Pacific, National Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal-Korea

After the US Navy, while employed with NJ Bell, he met Ruth Carter and they married in Fairview, NJ on June 7, 1952.  In 1955, they moved into the new Cape Cod style home on 286 Harding Ave Teaneck, NJ, built by his Dad, a carpenter, on a lot his father and mother owned since July 1946.

He grew up and spent most of his adult life living in New Jersey.  In Teaneck he enjoyed his hobby as a ham-radio operator, boating, water-skiing, fishing on the Hudson River.  After moving to West Milford in 1968, he enjoyed sailing on Greenwood Lake.  After he retired from NJ Bell, he moved to Clearwater, FL where he enjoyed boating, sailing, tennis, bike riding, motor scootering, watching beautiful sunsets at Clearwater beach, and drinking coffee from his porch.  He enjoyed many trips back to NJ to spend quality time visiting his family.  Due to health reasons, he moved to be near his children, so in 2010 he moved back to Hamburg, NJ - once again enjoying his coffee outdoors.

He is survived by his adult children Edward J. Degeorgis and his wife Mary Anne, Stephen J. Degeorgis and his wife Marybeth, and Wendy A. Saxton and her husband Walter.  He is also survived by his grandchildren: Christiane Degeorgis, Eddie Degeorgis, Lisa Gabriele and her husband Sal, Melissa Mossey and her husband Patrick, Courtney Munro and her husband John, Kara Degeorgis, Jackie Degeorgis, Brian Saxton and his fiancé Amanda, and Katie Saxton; great-grandchildren: Dante Gabriele and Vince Gabriele.

He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Joseph and Renee Degeorgis, and sister Marie Mooney (Degeorgis), his wives Ruth Degeorgis (Carter) and Angela Degeorgis (Mangas)

The family will have a private memorial service.  Donations can made to New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home-MP in Edison, NJ.

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