Obituary of Vincent Anthony Simonetti

Vincent “Jim” Simonetti, a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, died at home at age 98 in Southport, NC on June 8th, 2023. Vincent was born on January 13th, 1925 to his parents Salvatore and Fillipa (Florio) in Brooklyn, NY. He worked in his father’s store on Maujer Street and enlisted in the US Navy at age 17.

In the Navy, Vincent trained at The Boston Institute on turbo electric ship propulsion systems. After graduation he became a Provost Marshall and was sent to the Aleutian Islands in 1942. Later, more training in NY lead to an assignment on the AKA-25 US Circe, an attack transport ship which was assigned to a division that staged the battle of Okinawa. When crossing the equator Vincent and his shipmates celebrated becoming “Shellbacks.” After being reassigned to the USS Admiral S.W. Sims, a troop transport ship, his last stop was San Francisco. He was honorably discharged on December 9th, 1945.

Vincent remained in the Navy Active Reserves and was given orders to return to active duty on May 10th, 1951. He reported to the USS Robert K. Huntington for the Korean Conflict. He trained off the coast of Guantanamo Bay before supporting troops in the Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged for good on July 29th, 1952.

After the war, Vincent started working with Bilt-Rite Baby Carriage Company as a Supervisor. He married his wife Frances on July 10th,1948. They bought their first home in Massapequa, NY where they had three children Salvatore, Donna and Vincent. After being promoted to Salesman and given a territory in New Jersey, the family moved to Union, NJ where they resided for many years. Vincent became a Manufacturer’s Representative and spent his career in the juvenile products industry as a sales representative for such companies as Simmons Juvenile Furniture and Mattresses & Century Products.

Vincent’s passionate love for baseball and the New York Yankees lead to coaching Little League for his sons. He was a great story teller and entertained his family and friends with his many colorful stories of growing up and his time in the Navy.  He was active in the Knights of Columbus and enjoyed many wonderful summers at the Jersey shore and the Falco family farm.

Vincent enjoyed traveling and treated his family to trips to Woodloch Pines, Bermuda and Hawaii. He and Frances also enjoyed trips to Italy, Alaska, Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands. After retiring at age 70, he became active with the Union senior citizens club and became President of the Tuesday and Friday clubs. He enjoyed planning Atlantic City casino trips, dinner trips, calling bingo, and leading line dancing.

After the death of his wife Frances, he moved to Rockaway, NJ to be closer to his sons. He moved with his son Sal and daughter in law Chris to Southport, NC December of 2020. In Southport he became active with the American Legion Post 454 and loved the comradery of other veterans. Recently he was featured in the documentary “A Wall Of Honor” where he spoke of his time in the service.

Vincent is survived by his sons Salvatore and his wife Christina, Vincent and his wife Laura, grandchildren Christina and Kimberly Zarrello, James Simonetti and his wife Samantha, Kaytren and her husband Jimmy Pang, Vincent Simonetti, Christina and her husband Conor Quincey, great grandchildren Mila, Sybilia and Lydia Quincey, Owen Pang, his sister Marie Yorio and many dear nieces and nephews.

Vincent was predeceased in death by his wife Frances (Falco), daughter Donna Zarrello, his parents, and his siblings Beatrice and Pasquale.

Visitation on Wednesday June 14, 2023 from 5:00PM – 8:00PM at Tuttle Funeral Home, Randolph (Tuttlefh.com). 

Funeral Mass 10:30AM on Thursday June 15, 2023 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Boonton. 

Funeral Mass will be livestreamed at: https://www.olmc.church/funeral

Entombment at Gate of Heaven Chapel Mausoleum, East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to: American Legion Post 454, 103 SE 50th St, Oak Island, NC 28465 https://www.amlegion454.org/ or Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association http://cmtausa.org/