Joseph C. LaRiccia Jr., of Montclair, died peacefully on March 16, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. He was 83.
Mr. LaRiccia was born in 1938 in Montclair and was a proud Mountie, playing football for Montclair High School before graduating in 1956. After high school, he earned a degree from Newark Vo-Tech School before going on to serve his country in the New Jersey National Guard for eight years.
He then owned and operated Joseph LaRiccia Plumbing and Heating for 34 years before becoming a plumbing inspector for the townships of Maplewood, Millburn, South Orange, Short Hills, Verona and West Caldwell.
He later served as the assistant building inspector in Maplewood and as treasurer of the Essex County Inspectors Association.
Mr. LaRiccia received many honors during his long career and served as a mentor to countless people. In 2017, he was presented with the “Person of the Year” award by the New Jersey Building Officials Association, and in 2019 the New Jersey State Plumbing Inspectors Association selected him as the recipient of its “Plumbing Inspector of the Year” award.
He was also a member of the Roseland Zoning Board of Adjustment and a plumbing subcode official for the Essex County Board of Appeals. As a result of his years of service, he earned a lifetime membership in the New Jersey Building Officials Association and the New Jersey State Plumbing Inspectors Association.
Mr. LaRiccia enjoyed life to the fullest. He was an avid fly fisherman and woodworker, and he loved spending time with his family at Via Vita, his country home in Pennsylvania. He will be immensely missed by his family, friends, colleagues and all those whose lives he touched.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Isabella (Grapes); children, Joseph (Suzanne), Kelly, Donna (Daniel) and Susan; grandchildren, Nicole Smith (Mike), Joseph Venutolo (Grace), Joseph and Bridget LaRiccia, Daniel, Nicholas, Ryan, Tyler and Matthew Onove, and his great-granddaughter, Coralai Elizabeth Venutolo,
Mr. LaRiccia was predeceased by his mother, Grace LaRiccia-Marano; father, Joseph C. LaRiccia, and brothers, Nicholas and Leonard.
Viewing will be at Caggiano Memorial Home, 62 Grove St. from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 19. A funeral Mass will be said on March 20 at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Roseland, at 10:30 a.m., with entombment at Immaculate Conception Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the St. Joseph’s Indian School at stjo.org/flowers, PO Box 100, Chamberlain, SD 57325.