Salvatore Anthony DeSapio, age 69 years, of Kingwood Township, NJ, died suddenly on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at his home.

Born in Somerville, NJ, September 30, 1951, he was the son of the late Antonio and Alessandria Carulli DeSapio.

Raised in Kingwood Township, he attended and graduated from Kingwood Elementary School and Delaware Valley Regional High School. He then went on to attend Belmont Abbey College and earned his BA in Political Science.

On June 24, 1978 Sal married Ms. Marianna Belmonte. The couple raised 6 sons: Antonino, Michael, Gaetano, Joseph, Adam, and Edward on their farm in Kingwood Township. Sal and Marianna also served as a foster family for Catholic Charities and DYFS, caring for 24 children in total over the years. In 2003, for their selfless service over many years, the couple was awarded the “Immanuel Award” by Catholic Charities. After 34 years of marriage, Marianna passed away in 2012.

Following Marianna’s death, Sal would meet a widow, Elizabeth “Betty” Magrino English, with whom he found friendship, companionship and love. In 2017, they joined their hands in marriage.

Over the years, Sal had many involvements and most would remember him as one of the smiling faces of De Sapio Construction, Inc., a well-known and highly regarded general contracting firm. He served as an aide in the United States House of Representatives to Congressman Joseph Maraziti, 13^th district, NJ and also served four years in the Hunterdon County Finance Department, serving one year as Hunterdon County Treasurer.

Always enjoying politics, Sal was elected to the Kingwood Township Committee, serving two terms, serving on the Planning Board, Board of Health, Environmental Commission, Agriculture and Open Space Commission, COAH Committee, Emergency Management Committee, and as Liaison to the NJ State Police and as Liaison to the Road Department. He was also honored to have served two terms as the Mayor of Kingwood Township. He was currently still serving Kingwood Township as its Historian at the time of his death.

A lifelong parishioner of Our Lady of Victories Church, Sal served as an Altar Server, Lector, Cantor, assistant RCIA instructor, Choir member, Third Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and Extraordinary Minister. He and Betty often brought Holy Communion to the patients at Hunterdon Medical Center, a role he greatly loved.

Sal was a member of the Kingwood Township Volunteer Fire Company from 1976-1991, serving as Vice President, Trustee, and Fund-Raising Chairman. He also served the community as a Soccer Coach, Baseball Coach, and judge at the Kingwood Township annual fishing derby.

Sal was a member of many historical and cultural groups including the Italian American Heritage Club of Hunterdon County, the San Fele Society, The National Italian American Foundation, The Italian Genealogical Group, The Kingwood Township Historical Society, The Oak Summit School Historical Society, The Hunterdon County Historical Society, The New York Historical Society, The Red Mill Museum, The Brigade of the American Revolution, Lamb’s Artillery, Morgan’s Rifle Company, Bray’s Militia Company, and he has been a longtime participant in the annual reenactment of Washington’s Crossing.

With many hobbies to keep him busy, he greatly enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing bocce, gardening, metal detecting, and coin collecting.

With all of the above activities and accomplishments to his name, Sal really only lived to do God’s work, humbly. Matthew 5:1-10, commonly called the Beatitudes, describes the philosophy by which Sal walked the earth: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Sal, surely you have heard the words, “Well done good and faithful servant” the day the Lord called you home. To honor Sal, is to follow his example as he followed the path laid out in the Gospel of Matthew, knowing that all who are faithful, will see God, and Sal again.

Surviving are his wife, Betty DeSapio, his sons, Antonino and his wife Honey, Michael, Gaetano and his fiancé Linda Chin, Joseph, Adam and Edward; his grandchildren, Angelina and Luca DeSapio; his siblings, Gaetano and Susan DeSapio, Vincenzo “Jim” and Ellen DeSapio, Mary DeSapio, Theresa DeSapio, Martin and Cathleen DeSapio, Sandria DeSapio, and Anthony and Phyllis DeSapio; his mother-in-law, Dorothy Magrino; many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family; and many dear friends.

Sal will lie in repose on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 in Our Lady of Victories Church, 1007 County Road 519, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, according to the following schedule:

4:00-5:00 p.m.: those age 55 and over, along with those who are immunocompromised

5:00-8:00 p.m.: open to everyone

There will be an additional time of visitation at the church on Thursday, October 29, 2020 from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial concelebrated by Msgr. David I. Fulton and Rev. Kris Kaczynski will take place on Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Victories Church.

Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival, and remember that masks must be worn at all times on church grounds and social distancing must be maintained.

Following mass, all are invited to join the family at St. Magdalen Cemetery, North Main Street, Flemington, NJ where Sal will be laid to rest in the family plot.

All arrangements are under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

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

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his honor may be made to one of the following: Our Lady of Victories Church, P.O. Box 127, Baptistown, NJ 08803, the Kingwood Township Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 99, Baptistown, NJ 08803, or to the Kingwood Township Resque Squad, P.O. Box 89, Baptistown, NJ 08803.

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