Obituary for John Paglia
John Paglia, of Brielle, NJ, died Thursday, April 8, 2021. He was 85 years old. John was born and raised on Staten Island, NY. After graduating from Curtis High School, where he excelled on the baseball field, John joined the NYPD. He served 20 years, mostly in the 6th Precinct in Greenwich Village. John loved walking the beat down Bleecker Street, encountering all the different people who made the Village so vibrant in the 50s and 60s. Some of his favorite memories from that time were playing cards with Audrey Hepburn while she filmed Breakfast at Tiffany’s, driving Muhammad Ali around the city, and working security at Woodstock. He was still recognized in the Village years after his NYPD retirement in 1977.
Actual retirement was not part of John’s vocabulary. Even from age 12, when he set up bowling pins for tips at the Victory Lanes in Castleton Corners, John possessed a strong work ethic and business acumen. When he moved to the Jersey Shore in the 70s, he began renting out summer houses on Manasquan Beach. Over the years, he became the owner or partner in many iconic shore businesses, including the Seabreeze at Manasquan Beach, Foley’s Liquors in Neptune, Bar Casablanca in Brielle, Leggett’s Sand Bar in Manasquan, Gee Gee’s at Manasquan Beach, JP’s in Wall, Mahogany Grill in Manasquan, and the River House in Brielle.
John himself was a fixture at the Shore. He knew everyone and everyone knew him. When not at work in the summer, John always could be found on Manasquan’s Main Beach soaking up the sun. Every year John would be honored to receive the first senior beach badge of the season. His permanent tan was further enhanced by winter months spent on Fort Lauderdale Beach with his wife and many friends from Staten Island.
John will be long remembered for his ever-present smile, his generosity, and his larger-than-life personality. Surviving him is Karen Paglia, his beloved wife of 47 years; three loving daughters Christina Paglia Bischoff of Larchmont, NY, Lisa Paglia of San Diego, CA, and Jody Paglia Tanzman of Barrington, RI; two brothers William Paglia, MA, and George Paglia, NY; one sister, Helen LaPorta, NJ; and eight grandchildren Wyatt, Owen, Lia, Kaitlyn, Colin, Rylan, Beckett and Gemma Rose, whom he adored.
Memorial Visitation will be Sunday, April 11, 2021, from 6-9pm and Monday, April 12, 2021, from 2-5pm at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall. Committal will be private. A celebration in John’s honor will be planned for this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s name to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306. For more information or to send condolences, please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com.
Actual retirement was not part of John’s vocabulary. Even from age 12, when he set up bowling pins for tips at the Victory Lanes in Castleton Corners, John possessed a strong work ethic and business acumen. When he moved to the Jersey Shore in the 70s, he began renting out summer houses on Manasquan Beach. Over the years, he became the owner or partner in many iconic shore businesses, including the Seabreeze at Manasquan Beach, Foley’s Liquors in Neptune, Bar Casablanca in Brielle, Leggett’s Sand Bar in Manasquan, Gee Gee’s at Manasquan Beach, JP’s in Wall, Mahogany Grill in Manasquan, and the River House in Brielle.
John himself was a fixture at the Shore. He knew everyone and everyone knew him. When not at work in the summer, John always could be found on Manasquan’s Main Beach soaking up the sun. Every year John would be honored to receive the first senior beach badge of the season. His permanent tan was further enhanced by winter months spent on Fort Lauderdale Beach with his wife and many friends from Staten Island.
John will be long remembered for his ever-present smile, his generosity, and his larger-than-life personality. Surviving him is Karen Paglia, his beloved wife of 47 years; three loving daughters Christina Paglia Bischoff of Larchmont, NY, Lisa Paglia of San Diego, CA, and Jody Paglia Tanzman of Barrington, RI; two brothers William Paglia, MA, and George Paglia, NY; one sister, Helen LaPorta, NJ; and eight grandchildren Wyatt, Owen, Lia, Kaitlyn, Colin, Rylan, Beckett and Gemma Rose, whom he adored.
Memorial Visitation will be Sunday, April 11, 2021, from 6-9pm and Monday, April 12, 2021, from 2-5pm at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall. Committal will be private. A celebration in John’s honor will be planned for this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s name to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306. For more information or to send condolences, please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com.