Anthony Frank Colacicco, Jr., age 61 of Sparta, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on July 3, 2025.  Born in The Bronx, NY and raised in Colonia and Woodbridge, NJ, Tony was the beloved son of Dorothy and Anthony Colacicco, and the older brother of his sister, Gina.  Tony married the love of his life, Laura, in 1991 and often said with great pride that Laura was “the best and smartest person” he knew.  Tony and Laura celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary in March, 2025.

Together, Tony and Laura raised their two daughters in Sparta, NJ, where they made their home for over thirty years. A devoted father, Tony coached and managed both of his daughters’ softball teams and served for many years as a board member for Sparta Girls Sports.

“Coach Tony” had a true passion for the game, especially coaching catchers and batting. As a man who loved traditions, he always made sure his players had Bazooka bubble gum in the dugout.  Though he didn’t particularly enjoy the long weekends he spent raking and lining the fields, he did it gladly for his daughters and his team.

Ambitious, driven, and incredibly hard-working, Tony spent his 40-year career working as a project and operations manager in the controls industry. Tony specialized in managing large-scale heating and cooling system control projects in New York City and New Jersey while working at Siemens Building Technologies, Automated Logic, and United Technologies.  He had a knack for technology and coordinating projects, and he was known for bringing his sense of humor to the most complex of jobs.

In his free time, Tony loved being with his family, cruising the boat across Lake Mohawk, and water and snow skiing – until, as he liked to say, he got “too old for that.”  He was an avid cook, especially of Italian dishes.  A self-proclaimed, “grumpy, old Italian guy,” he made a mean chicken cacciatore, and he took joy in passing down his cooking tips to his daughters.  At home, Tony enjoyed taking on construction projects, and he was particularly proud of the porch he built and the kitchen renovation he completed.  As a wonderfully typical dad, Tony stood up while watching The History Channel, regularly spilled his black coffee, grumbled about having to take care of dogs who he secretly loved, and above all else, he loved his family dearly.

Tony is survived by his devoted wife, Laura; their daughters, Chrysten and Lauren; as well as his father, Anthony, Sr., and his nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy, and his younger sister, Gina.

A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 12 noon until the time of the memorial service at 1pm at the Damiano Funeral Home, 191 Franklin Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740. The family invites you to leave a letter of condolence by selecting the Tribute/Guestbook link above.