Matteo "Matt" Damiano Obituary (1922

Matteo "Matt" Damiano, 96 of Monroe Township died Saturday April 6th at the University Medical of Princeton at Plainsboro. Born in Elizabeth, he lived in Westfield and Roselle before moving to the Rossmoor community in Monroe Township in 1980. He was the owner of Matt Industries of Brooklyn, NY for 30 years before his retirement. After retirement he was a real estate agent for Levinson Associates in Monroe Township. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving with Patton's Third Army, 4th Armored Division and was a recipient of the Purple Heart and the Presidential Citation. Mr. Damiano was a very active resident of the Rossmoor community and very generous with his time and talents. He served as past president of the Rossmoor Kiwanis Club as well as the Chairman of their Spiritual Committee and Community Food Bank. He was past president of the Catholic Society of Rossmoor, member of the Italian-American Club, member of the Emerald Society and past general chairman of the Quincentennial Columbus Day Celebration. He was honored in 1992 as the "Citizen of the Year Award" by the Rossmoor Community. He was a charter member of the Nativity of Our Lord Knights of Columbus and a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Assembly #1848. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was a past exalted ruler of the B.P.O.Elks Lodge #289, Elizabeth and he was an honorary member of the Class of 1943 at Rutgers University. He served on the Bob Brix Memorial Gold Committee for many years. He was a Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Matt was very active at Nativity of Our Lord Church and the Metuchen Diocese and successfully served on the Building Fund of his Parish. He was past president and charter member of the Holy Name Society and served as head usher for 12 years. After being recommended by his pastor, Father Edward Flanagan, he was honorably presented with the Regina Nostra Medal for Exemplary Service to his Parish and the Diocese by the Most Reverend Paul G. Bootkoski, Bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen. He was preceded in death by his wife Rose in 2004, five sisters and one brother. Surviving are his daughter Daria Wells of Roosevelt, NJ, his grandsons Samuel G. Wells, Raven Wells and his wife Brandy, his four great grandchildren Airman Noah Wells, USAF, Riley Baugh, and Brooklyn and Alivia Finch and many nieces and nephews. Services will begin 10:15 a.m. Friday at the Lester Memorial Home 16 W. Church St., Jamesburg followed by an 11:00 a.m. funeral liturgy at Nativity of Our Lord RC Church, Monroe Township. Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery, Linden. Visiting hours for family and friends will be Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and Friday 9:15-10:15 a.m. at the funeral home.