Obituary of William J Melillo

Reverend William J. Melillo, Jr., 89, of West Orange, New Jersey, born February 14, 1936, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2025.

After receiving a Bachelor’s Degree from Seton Hall University in 1962 and attending Immaculate Conception Seminary, Fr. Bill was ordained a priest on May 28, 1966 by Archbishop Thomas Boland at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark in service to the Archdiocese of Newark. His priestly assignments included St. Vincent de Paul Church in Bayonne from 1966-1969, St. Rose of Lima Church in Short Hills from 1969-1976, and St. Philomena Church in Livingston from 1976-1978. Fr. Bill was also a weekend assistant at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in West Orange from 1978-2001 and Our Lady of the Lake Church in Verona from 2001-present.

Fr. Bill’s most notable and devoted pastoral assignment was at Seton Hall Prep high school, where he worked for 47 years of his priesthood – full-time from 1978-2006 and part-time from 2006-present. At Seton Hall Prep, Fr. Bill was a beloved theology teacher, chair of the theology department, guidance counselor in addition to being chaplain to the SHP athletic teams. For 5 decades of his life, Fr. Bill was an integral and admired member of The Prep family. He was instrumental in founding the Walton Family Learning Center at The Prep and received numerous school awards including the Thomas A. Reynold’s Award from the Fathers’ Club in 2006, the Salvatore N. Caprio Award for “his generosity in time, patience, and concern for students,” and the yearbook dedicated to him twice in 1983 and 1994.

Even with his assignments, schooling, and work at The Prep, Fr. Bill always made time for his family. He adored his nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and great-grandnephew. He was so thoughtful and generous and will be deeply missed by his family.

Fr. Bill is survived by his loving brother, Anthony Melillo and his wife Judy, and sister-in-law, JoAnn Melillo. He is also survived by his adoring nieces and nephews, Lori Scerbak and her husband Eric, Dana Allen and her husband Robert, Nicolas Melillo, Jr., and Daryl Melillo and his wife Misty. He leaves behind his cherished grandnieces and nephews, Alyssa Donowick and her husband Jake and their son Von, Jaclyn DeNicola and her husband CJ, Aidan Allen, and Joseph Melillo. Fr. Bill is also survived by his dear friend, Reverend Monsignor Michael E. Kelly.

Fr. Bill is predeceased by his beloved parents, William and Jean (neé Caruso) and caring brother, Nicolas Melillo (2023).

Family and friends are welcome to gather on Friday, February 28, 2025, from 10 am - 11 am at Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church, 22 Lakeside Avenue, Verona, New Jersey. A Funeral Mass will follow visitation at 11 am at Our Lady of the Lake. Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, it is the family's wishes that donations be made in Fr. Bill's memory to Seton Hall Preparatory School.