Joseph Formola

Joseph Formola, of Colonia, passed away on Wednesday, December 9th at home. He was 74. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he has lived in Colonia since 1976. Joe studied Aircraft Maintenance at Aviation High School in Queens, where he was a member of the Fencing Team and the National Honor Society before graduating in 1964. He then enlisted in the United States Navy where he served stateside at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn. Following his Honorable Discharge from the Navy in 1970, Joe began his career with the IBM Corp, working as an Application Programmer and Senior System Analyst in various areas of New York and New Jersey until 1998. Over the next several years, he continued his career as an Application Programmer with Solomon Smith Barney, the American Stock Exchange and Hartford Life Private Placement before leaving the computer field to become an Instructor/Faculty Member at Community Safety Consultants in Metuchen, where he worked for over 11 years. He also served as an EMT in Metuchen and Woodbridge. For over 15 years he was an active and dedicated volunteer with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Woodbridge Township, where he served as Deputy OEM, Coordinator, Senior Training Officer, EMT and Senior Instructor specializing in WMD Radiological/Nuclear Hazardous Materials, WMD Radiological/Nuclear Awareness, CPR/AED, First Aid and Bloodborne Pathogens. He was also an active and dedicated volunteer with the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., serving as Chaplain for the New Jersey State Council. Joe also helped counsel and aid veterans in need through the VVA and the Veterans Affairs He was a longtime parishioner of St. John Vianney’s RC Church in Colonia, where he served as an Usher at the 12:15 Sunday Mass and Eucharistic Minister, often administering the Blessed Sacrament to the homebound. A true patriot, Joe was very proud of his country, his military service and his service to the community. He was a fan of all things military, especially Navy, American History and later in his life all things medical and first aid. He was also an avid reader, loved electronic gadgets as well as model airplanes and ships. His favorite activities included watching Jeopardy!, listening to Willie Nelson, going out to eat, spending time with his family and friends and helping others in need. As a humanitarian, Joe touched countless lives through his volunteer work both locally and throughout the state. But above all, he was a loving husband, supportive father and proud grandfather. He will be truly missed by everyone that knew him. He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph E. Formola (1975) and Mary V. Formola (1998). Surviving are his wife of 51 years and love of his life, Jacqueline (Bergado); son, Joel M. Formola (with Robin Ann Hochfelder) of Metuchen; daughter and son-in-law, Nicole & Tyson Morris of Colonia; grandchildren, Joshua Formola and Amelia Miller; brother, Wayne Formola of Long Island, New York; his beloved cat Harpo Pantherface; many nieces, nephews and cousins and countless friends. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 14th from 3 to 6 PM at the Gleason Funeral Home, 1360 Hamilton Street, Somerset. Please note that due to Covid restrictions attendance will be limited at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 15th at 8:15 AM at the funeral home, followed by a 9:30 AM Mass at St. John Vianney’s RC Church, Colonia. Committal service to be held privately. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), care of Bryan Austin, 1 Main Street, Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095 in Joe’s loving memory. “Go Navy!”