Andrew A. Napolitano Navy veteran of World War II and N.J. Bell Telephone Co. retiree Andrew A. Napolitano, 92, known to friends as "Andy," died peacefully on Friday, July 20, 2018, in Ridgewood, N.J. Visitation will be on Monday, July 23, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Shook's Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, N.J. Services will begin on Tuesday, July 24, at 9 a.m., at the funeral home. A Mass of the Resurrection will be offered at St. Catherine of Siena Church, July 24, 339 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield, N.J. Memories and condolences may be shared at shookscedargrove.com. Andy was born in Newark, N.J., and raised in Bloomfield, where he spent most of his life, until he moved to Verona, N.J., in 2001. After graduating from Bloomfield High School in January 1943, he began his career at the New Jersey Bell Telephone Co. His happy work there was interrupted when he volunteered for induction into the U.S. Navy, where he spent three years aboard ship in the European and Mediterranean theatres of operation. He participated in the Allied liberation of Italy. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy, Andy resumed his career at N.J. Bell, where he rose through the ranks to management positions. At the time of his retirement in 1983, he was a supervising instructor and taught classes in the maintenance of electronic switching systems. He taught new entrants as well as senior management. He was a Little League coach and an assistant scout master in Bloomfield. He also served for many years on the Bloomfield Local Assistance Board. Andy was a member of the Knights of Columbus Bloomfield Council 1178, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Telephone Pioneers of America, and the Old Guard of Nutley. He was an avid sports enthusiast who played competitive softball into his 50s, and golf and bowling into his late 80s. He loved watching and talking about the N.Y. Yankees, the N.Y. Giants, and Fox News. He was a devotee of team sports, teaching his sons and all who would listen the values of teamwork and well as self-reliance. At age four, Andy met a pretty, curly haired little girl just three days older than he was, named Rita Caruso. Rita became his high school sweetheart, the love of his life, his best friend for 88 years, and his wife for 70 years. Andy is survived by his loving wife, Rita. He is also survived by his three sons, former N.J. Superior Court Judge Andrew Peter of Newton, N.J.; James Phillip (Loretta) of Denville, N.J., and Lawrence Edward (Deborah) of Great Meadows, N.J.; four grandchildren, Meredith Napolitano Stettner (Edward), Robert (Janaya), Cara Napolitano, and Nicole Napolitano; two great-grandsons, Dominic Robert Napolitano and Jack James Stettner. He is also survived by his sister, Annabelle Napolitano Melillo, of Verona. Andy was predeceased into eternal life by his parents, Philip and Anna, and his brothers, Gennard and Philip Jr. Andy accepted and endured the last days of his life in peace, fortified by his family and his Catholic faith, and manifesting the remarkable bravery and personal courage he often demonstrated in his earlier years. His life was extended many times through the bravery and courage of the members of the Verona Rescue Squad, 12 Church St., Verona, N.J. 07044, to which donations in Andy's name may be made.