Paul J. Gandolfo

Paul J Gandolfo, age 96, passed away Tuesday morning, May 20, 2025 at the Brookdale Florence assisted living facility in Florence NJ.

He was born in 1929 in New Orleans, Louisiana, son of Frank and Sadie Gandolfo. He married his very beloved wife Anita Valero Bao in June of 1950. She predeceased him in March of 1993 at age 63. In their younger years the couple enjoyed dancing together. Paul worked as a draftsman for a while and then pivoted and became a licensed Real Estate Broker. Anita was stricken quite early in life with rheumatoid arthritis, but they still raised three children, Paul, Antonette (aka Toni), and Joseph. He enjoyed helping others and made friends everywhere he went. He also loved sports and traveling. After Anita passed, he met Gloria Zielinski in June of 1996, and the two became long time companions. Paul’s family meant everything to him, he was a great husband, but most of all he was the best father ever, definitely one of a kind.

He will be missed terribly by his 3 loving children Paul, Antonette (Toni) and Joseph, his 6 wonderful grandchildren Jessica, Kathleen, Paul, Jimmie, Joseph and John and his 9 adoring great-grandchildren Madison, Charlotte, Nicholas, Joanna, Avery, Louise, Dominic, Anthony and Rocco.

Paul was the eldest of four brothers. Beloved brother Frank, who predeceased him, beloved brother Peter Gandolfo, 83, and beloved brother Robert, who also predeceased him.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 am at the Martin Hughes Funeral Home, 530 Narrows Road South, Staten Island, NY 10304 on Friday, May 23, 2025. Burial will take place later that day in the nearby St Mary’s Cemetery. Relatives and family may call at the Martin Hughes Funeral Home Friday from 10:00 am until noon, when after a short service, we will proceed to St Mary’s cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting https://www.martinhughesfuneralhome.com/.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Brookdale Florence NJ and Suncrest Hospice for all the compassionate care given to Paul in his final days. Paul enjoyed life to the fullest and will be greatly missed by all.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/

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