William “Bill” Velardi, age 67 years, of Long Branch, NJ, died peacefully at home on Monday, March 17, 2025.

A man of tremendous faith and possessing of a kind and gentle heart. If you wished to understand him, look to his piety or join him in the kitchen or his garden. He was an avid reader of history, biographies, cooking, gardening, health, and fitness.

Always proud of his service in the Navy from May 1980 to October 1985, Bill received an honorable discharge then continued to reach out and touch the lives of many veterans, never content to watch them suffer or go without.

Surpassing his pride in the Navy was his love for his son, William Zachary Verlardi; none who knew him could doubt his fatherhood, especially his own child. He will be remembered for his strength and tenacity, his gentleness and laughter, and for all the good and virtue he brought to the world.

Receiving a A.A.S. in Marketing at Middlesex County College, Bill then was accepted at Monmouth University in 2003, where he continued his studies.

Interment with military honors will take place on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown, PA, and to which all are welcome. Everyone is kindly asked to arrive at the cemetery office beginning at 12:45 p.m.

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

You are encouraged to visit William’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.

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

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