Obituary of Joseph Cavallo

On Saturday, September 7, 2019, Joseph Cavallo (“Joe”), loving husband and father of two children, succumbed to leukemia at the age of 78 near his home in Ormond Beach, Florida, surrounded by his family.

Joe was born on May 25, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York to Donato and Rose Cavallo. After studying finance at St. John’s University and earning a master’s degree from New York University, Joe enjoyed a 30-year career as a financial manager at IBM, often acting as a trusted mentor to those on his team. On May 5, 1968, Joe married Mary Ann, his wife of 51 years, and they later moved to Wyckoff, New Jersey, where they raised two daughters, Krista and Janine.

Joe had a heart-felt passion for New York City (thus earning him the beloved nickname “NYC Joe”), the New York Yankees and dining out at fine restaurants. He often joked that he should have been a restaurant reviewer, and would always carry a well-worn copy of the latest “Zagat” review book wherever he went. He also adored reading novels and Civil War history, and kept a journal in which he rated each book. His latest passion included a dog and cat-sitting business, and he found that dogs and cats alike enjoyed when he would read out loud to them (usually mysteries). Joe was known for his fun-loving and charismatic personality, being ever the life of the party, while at the same time being the giver of priceless advice that is heeded to this day. Joe touched the lives of all who knew him with his warmth, jovial disposition and passion for enjoying life.

Joe is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, his two daughters, Krista and Janine, his sister, Rosemarie Morris, and five grandchildren, Isabelle, Christina, Griffin, Anabel and Steven.

A gathering in celebration of his life will be held on Friday, September 27, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, New Jersey, and a funeral mass will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth’s Church,700 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, www.lls.org.