Obituary of John Joseph Retano Jr.

John J. Retano, Jr. of Boonton, NJ and King of Prussia, PA passed away on March 25, 2025, after a short illness.

John was born September 2, 1937, in Union City, NJ to John and Adeline Retano. He has one sister, Joan Hartmann, and is predeceased by his brother-in-law, Joseph Hartmann.

He is survived by his devoted wife Vivien (nee Maita), originally of Bayonne, NJ. They were married for over 60 years and raised two children, Angela Maita Anderson of Montville, NJ and Jonathan Retano of East Norriton, PA.

John was the proud grandfather of two, Jake (18) and Vivien (14) Retano and the loving father-in-law to Douglas Anderson and Melissa Retano.

After serving honorably in the US Navy for two years, John worked at Pfizer in Parsippany, NJ for 42 years. Ever the hard worker, he also served as a Special Officer for the Boonton Police Department, working days at Pfizer and nights as a police officer.

John was well-known and respected in the Boonton community. He and his wife, Vivien, were devoted members of their church, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, for 54 years. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Boontonites Senior Club.

John was always generous with the little free time he had. He volunteered as a youth football referee, baseball umpire, and coach, coaching CYO Basketball, Grayhawk’s Football, and Little League Baseball. A talented athlete himself, he played both baseball and football and continued to work as a football referee for many years after his retirement from Pfizer.

John loved sports, and always enjoyed watching his daughter, Angela, compete in gymnastics and his son, Jonathan, play football and basketball at Boonton High School. More recently, he frequented the basketball and soccer games of his grandchildren. He was an avid NY Yankees, Giants, Knicks, and Rangers fan and could often be found sitting outside in a lawn chair listening to a game on the radio.

Family & friends are invited to honor John on Monday, March 31, 2025, from 3 to 7 PM at Dangler Lewis & Carey Funeral Home in Boonton and for mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Boonton at 12 noon on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.