Obituary for Donald J. Viggiano
Don passed away on July 23, 2019. He was born in Shelton, Connecticut and has lived in Mahwah for the last 45 years. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother.
Don is survived by his wife Arlene Viggiano (Emory) and his two daughters, Susan Viggiano-West and Lisa Chamberlin, as well as his grandchildren, Micaela (12), Sophia (12), Leah (9), Brooke (9), Cassidy (19), Brittney (17), and Camden (6). He is also survived by his siblings, John Viggiano, Sandra White, and Albert Viggiano.
Don’s greatest accomplishment in life was his family. He had an unwavering commitment to them, and they were his pride and joy.
Don was quick with a smile and his warm spirit was a bright light to everyone whose lives he touched. His easy going nature put people immediately at ease, and his genuine enthusiasm and joy for life was effortless and uplifting. He truly had the biggest heart and made everyone around him feel special. To his grandchildren, especially, he was the epitome of pure love.
An athlete with a lifelong passion for competitive sports, Don was a standout football player for Shelton High School. He was the captain of the varsity football team, and earned all state recognition for his play as a running back and tight end. He was recruited by Rutgers University, where he lettered for three years in football, and graduated in 1965.
After receiving his masters degree in education, he began his tenure at Bergen Catholic in 1967, as the Department Chairman of Health and Physical Education. During this time, Don also coached both track and football for eight years, and was the head football coach from 1970-1974. He was also a long time co-moderator for intramural bowling, and assisted Bergen Catholic students in their annual efforts to deliver holiday food baskets to underprivileged families in Jersey City. In addition, Don taught driver’s education theory, and behind-the-wheel lessons, to BC students for four decades. Don received the BC Founders’ Medal in 2001, and he retired from full time teaching in 2011, after forty-four years at Bergen Catholic, and continued to serve by teaching driver's education until this summer. Don was inducted into the Bergen Catholic Hall of Fame in March, to honor his many decades of service in education.
The family will receive family and friends on Friday from 4-8 pm at Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home, 530 High Mountain Road, Franklin Lakes.
Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s RC Church on Saturday at 11:30AM.
Interment at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Frank Chamberlin Memorial Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made out the Mahwah Board of Education and include a note in the memo field that reads, “The Frank Chamberlin Scholarship”. Checks can be mailed to:
The Mahwah Board of Education
60 Ridge Road
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Attn: Business Department
Don is survived by his wife Arlene Viggiano (Emory) and his two daughters, Susan Viggiano-West and Lisa Chamberlin, as well as his grandchildren, Micaela (12), Sophia (12), Leah (9), Brooke (9), Cassidy (19), Brittney (17), and Camden (6). He is also survived by his siblings, John Viggiano, Sandra White, and Albert Viggiano.
Don’s greatest accomplishment in life was his family. He had an unwavering commitment to them, and they were his pride and joy.
Don was quick with a smile and his warm spirit was a bright light to everyone whose lives he touched. His easy going nature put people immediately at ease, and his genuine enthusiasm and joy for life was effortless and uplifting. He truly had the biggest heart and made everyone around him feel special. To his grandchildren, especially, he was the epitome of pure love.
An athlete with a lifelong passion for competitive sports, Don was a standout football player for Shelton High School. He was the captain of the varsity football team, and earned all state recognition for his play as a running back and tight end. He was recruited by Rutgers University, where he lettered for three years in football, and graduated in 1965.
After receiving his masters degree in education, he began his tenure at Bergen Catholic in 1967, as the Department Chairman of Health and Physical Education. During this time, Don also coached both track and football for eight years, and was the head football coach from 1970-1974. He was also a long time co-moderator for intramural bowling, and assisted Bergen Catholic students in their annual efforts to deliver holiday food baskets to underprivileged families in Jersey City. In addition, Don taught driver’s education theory, and behind-the-wheel lessons, to BC students for four decades. Don received the BC Founders’ Medal in 2001, and he retired from full time teaching in 2011, after forty-four years at Bergen Catholic, and continued to serve by teaching driver's education until this summer. Don was inducted into the Bergen Catholic Hall of Fame in March, to honor his many decades of service in education.
The family will receive family and friends on Friday from 4-8 pm at Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home, 530 High Mountain Road, Franklin Lakes.
Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s RC Church on Saturday at 11:30AM.
Interment at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Frank Chamberlin Memorial Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made out the Mahwah Board of Education and include a note in the memo field that reads, “The Frank Chamberlin Scholarship”. Checks can be mailed to:
The Mahwah Board of Education
60 Ridge Road
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Attn: Business Department