Guarinello, Lawrence A., 82, of Teaneck died on Saturday, April 14, 2012. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Veronica “Ronnie” (nee Nowicki), his son Robert and his wife Terese “Ree”, son James and daughter Mary Venizelos and her husband John. Also survived by Patricia Guarinello, wife of the late Gregory Guarinello and his loving grandchildren Katie, Christie, Stefanie, Leigh, Jayme, Nicholas, Tiffany and Heather. He is predeceased by sons Stephen (1960) and Gregory (2006). In addition he is survived by his brothers Louis Guarinello, Fred Guarinello and sisters Diana Barrese, AnnaMaria Porto and Patricia Guarinello. He was the loving son of Fred Guarinello and Theresa Benenati. He was raised in Cliffside Park by his grandmother and many loving aunts and uncles. He graduated Cliffside Park H.S. in 1946 and will forever be a Red Raider.
He served in the U.S. Army in Vienna, Austria during the Korean Conflict. His wife, Ronnie, was able to join him overseas and his oldest son, Gregory was born in Vienna. After a brief period in Rhode Island he moved to Teaneck in 1956. In time he was dubbed “The General of Highwood Street”. On any warm night you would find a gathering of friends and neighbors on his front stoop and stone benches. He was truly a loyal friend and good neighbor. Larry was an insurance salesman for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and was a multiple member of their Million Dollar Round Table for sales excellence. Due to his flexible schedule he could be found at the ball fields and gyms of Bergen County attending the practices and games of his children. His greatest love after family and friends was sports. A virtual encyclopedia of sports, he could converse on any sports topic going as far back as eighty years whether it was high school, college or the professional level. He attended the New York Giants games with his friend Zavin for many, many years. He also loved his Knicks, Rangers, and Mets, especially Willie Mays and Bill Bradley. After retirement he could be found most days at the Biltmore Tuxedos in Fort Lee doing odds and ends and receiving friends and relatives. He also enjoyed his trips to Atlantic City and traveling everywhere and anywhere. His greatest joy was to have taken his family on an extended trip to Europe in 1971.
He was involved in many organizations, Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Homeless Shelter at St. Cecilia’s in Englewood, Teaneck Little League, Teaneck Babe Ruth League and as a longtime finance committee member of the St. Joseph’s RC Church in Bogota.
Friends and family will be received on Monday, April 16th from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Volk Leber Funeral Home, 789 Teaneck Rd., Teaneck. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 17th at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph’s RC Church, Bogota. Cremation will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to St. Joseph’s Academy, 131 East Fort Lee Rd, Bogota, NJ 07603 would be appreciated.