Obituary of Ralph J. Padovano

Ralph Padovano of Rochelle Park passed away on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on November 19, 1935 in Hackensack, NJ to Anthony and Rose (nee Piccolo) Padovano. A graduate of Hackensack High School and Fairleigh Dickinson University. He honorably served in the U.S. Army Reserve and thereafter attended law school at night while raising a family. He graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law and co-founded the law firm of Beattie Padovano, LLC where he spent over 46 years practicing law and was well respected for his professionalism. He enjoyed fishing along the Jersey shore with his family and friends. He was involved with numerous community activities including serving as a trustee of the Bergen County Bar Association, coaching little league, volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America, serving as a member of the Rochelle Park Board of Education which he later represented along with the South Hackensack Board of Education for decades. He was past president of the Park Ridge Rotary, Columbus Citizens' Foundation and served as past president of the Hackensack Chapter of UNICO. He was an active parishioner of St. Francis R.C. Church in Hackensack where he was a Eucharistic Minister, Lector and member of the Parish Council. He was also a member of the St. Francis Socialites. He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 56 years, Lona (nee Napotina) and their three sons, Jeffrey and his girlfriend Lisa, Scott and his wife Elizabeth, Gregg and his wife Claire. He is also survived by his ten grandchildren, Anthony, Jordan, Steven, Mark, Dominick, Grace, Rose, Grant, Emily and Garrett who will all dearly miss their grandpa, pop-pop and poppy. He is also survived by his six sisters, Cecilia and her husband Dr. Louis Napolitano, Antonia Longobardo, Rosemary and her husband Peter Brill, Celeste and her husband Bernie Leone, Caroline and her husband Charles Melcon and Christine and her husband Richard Tranchida, along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, Dawn Padovano and friends. Always ready to tell a joke or a funny story, he loved practicing law and spending time with his large family and large group of friends. He was one of the good guys and he will be forever missed. The funeral will begin on Monday May 9, at 8:45 AM from the funeral home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am at St. Francis R.C. Church, 50 Lodi Street, Hackensack. Interment will follow at Hackensack Cemetery, Hackensack. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 7 – 9 PM and Sunday, from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 PM. In lieu of flowers please make donations to St. Francis R.C. Church, 50 Lodi Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601.