Joseph Michael Borrelli, Sr., age 83 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully and returned to the arms of Jesus on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at home, surrounded by his loving family and under the caring watch of Hunterdon Hospice.

Born on April 10, 1937 in New Rochelle, NY, son of the late Antonio and Vittoria Ramiera Borrelli, Joe was raised in New Rochelle and had lived in many cities across the United States during the course of his career including Brooklyn, NY, Holliston, MA, Rutland, VT, Sleepy Hollow, IL, Edison, NJ, and Clinton, CT, prior to moving to Raritan Township twenty-three years ago.

Graduating from Blessed Sacrament High School in 1956, Joe went on to the best catholic college that he knew: Iona College around the corner from where he grew up! Watching many people that he knew and respected attend and become successful, Joe followed his passions earning a BS in Chemistry in 1960.

The 1960’s saw tremendous growth and some say even a revolution in the pharmaceutical arena. Joe began his professional career as a salesman for the pharmaceutical company, Upjohn. After a few short years he would join Hoffman-LaRoche where his keen intuition, strong work ethic, and ever growing vast field of knowledge propelled his career and landed him the position of Midwest Regional Manager.

After retiring from Hoffman-LaRoche, Joe would soon realize that his passion for the industry would not allow him to be comfortable in retirement. Having kept many contacts in the field, he was recruited to work for Boehringer-Ingelheim as a Drug Safety Manager, and then later Bristol Myers-Squibb working on drug safety and infectious disease protocols.

Johnson & Johnson/Ortho-Nova and Elan Pharmaceuticals would be the final two companies to grow and benefit from Joe’s experience and expertise. It was with these companies conducting clinical research that concluded his long and successful career.

Growing up as the youngest of seven children in an Italian-Catholic home, the importance of family was instilled in Joe’s spirit from childhood. Family time was extremely important, as was education and hard work.

In high school, Joe strove to learn all that he could, and it was on a blind date for his senior prom where he would meet Ms. Marguerite “Peg” Cerreta, and his life would be altered for the better.

Forming a quick and deep friendship that would blossom into love, Peg fondly recalls Joe as a good man who loved deeply. Joe and Peg’s relationship was one founded on laughter and faith, which enabled them to have a wonderful partnership in which they balanced each other on every level. It was this mutual respect that allowed them to not once have a fight during their sixty-four plus years together. After dating for four years, three months, and two days, the pair were married on August 6, 1960 at St. Gabriel’s Church, New Rochelle, NY.

As Joe’s illness progressed the past several months, and he knew his time on earth was coming to a close, he vowed to make it home and live to see the couple’s sixtieth anniversary, a vow he kept as he and Peg shared their special day with family and friends, reflecting on the amazing life they had built together.

Peg and Joe’s love would yield four children: Joseph, Jr., Christine, Susan, and Mary Ann. Joe was extremely proud of each of his children, and encouraged them in every way. He taught them to be caring, smart and to make wise and examined life choices. He reminded them that relationships are give and take, more so on the giving end, and that a strong work ethic is part of what will make one successful in all their endeavors.

He led by example and many of his life activities were those in which he could give back not only with his time, but also his heart. He and Peg were very involved with the Fresh Air Fund Kids, bringing inner city youth to the country where many other “kids” joined the Borrelli family and remain a part of them to this day.

As an Eagle Scout, he became very involved with scouting again when Joe Jr. got involved with the program. From being a counselor to hosting scouting events, Joe Sr. happily helped the youth find their own path to living a happy and fulfilled life, grounded in being respectful to all peoples.

Joe was also a coach, mentor and advocate for the Special Olympics where his daughter, Susie, was a star athlete. Believing that Susie was the same as any child, Joe gently pushed her in the same ways as he did all his children. She excelled in every arena of life, graduating college, getting a driver’s license, and holding down a job. Joe was an amazing athlete himself, playing football, baseball and basketball. Susie was just as driven, as every Special Olympian is, and she participated in everything from skiing to martial arts to track and field. Their time together bonding over athletics was beautiful to watch for anyone who knew the Father-Daughter duo. Joe’s time spent helping, coaching, and advocating for all the athletes and their families in the program speaks to the core of who he was as a person: truly believing that everyone is created in God’s own image.

Growing up in a devout catholic home started Joe’s faith journey, but his life experiences pushed him to seek his faith on a deeper level. He was a faithful parishioner at all the churches in the various communities in which he lived, and over the years served as usher, CCD instructor, and was a 4^th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Flemington Jubilee Council #3294, Flemington, NJ.

The outdoors was a place where Joe could witness God’s love and beauty, and he particularly had an affinity for water activities. From being a ‘lobsterman’ to captaining large yachts for celebrities, if it involved water Joe would be there. Having many, various sized boats over the years, countless wonderful memories were formed on the water. He was very happy that as his family grew through marriages and subsequent grandchildren, he could simply get a larger boat to bring everyone together!

Mahatma Gandhi once wrote that, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Joe was the living embodiment of that sentiment in that on a daily basis he lived the values that were impressed upon him as a child. With each breath, he actively tried to allow the good and loving God of us all to work through him, and he felt that by being kind to everyone, he was doing what was asked of him by his creator. Joe’s legacy as a patriarch who cared deeply and loved ferociously will inspire many for years to come.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant sister, Anna, as well as his five adult siblings, Rose Borrelli, Carmela Borrelli, Anna Scoca and her husband, Vincent, Jerry Borrelli, and Dr. Anthony Borrelli.

Surviving are his loving and devoted wife, Marguerite “Peg” Cerreta Borrelli; his children and their spouses, Joseph and Terry Borrelli, Jr., Christine Marie and Steven English, Susan Marie Borrelli, and Mary Ann and Timothy Crispin; his grandchildren, Michael Christopher Borrelli, Alec James English, Eric Joseph English, Marc Anthony English, Haley Alice Crispin, and Tess Marguerite Crispin; her sisters-in-law, Elaine Borrelli (Jerry’s wife) and Elaine Borrelli (Anthony’s wife); several nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family; and many friends made throughout the places he lived and visited over the years.

Joe will lie in repose on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822. Please note: there is a limitation to the number of people inside the funeral home at any one time so please follow all instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival. Social distancing must be maintained and masks must be worn at all times while on funeral home grounds. There will be continual cleaning and sanitizing of the funeral home as the day proceeds to ensure the safety of all guests.

The Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. Kenneth Brighenti will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2020 at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ. Everyone is kindly asked to meet directly at the church on Thursday morning beginning at 9:45 a.m. Please note: Social distancing must be maintained and masks must be worn at all times while on church property. Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors will assist you upon arrival at the church. 

Burial will follow in the family plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 95 Kings Highway, New Rochelle, NY 10801.

Please visit Joe’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a memorial candle, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joe’s honor may be made to the Hunterdon County Special Olympics, c/o Kathy Creveling, 213 County Road 513, Glen Gardner, NJ 08826 or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”