Jerry R. Donatiello was born on June 27, 1945, in Newark NJ, to Angelo and Rose Donatiello. His home of record is Belleville, NJ. He had four brothers, Patrick, Anthony, Angelo, Jr. and Robert. Richie, as he was known at home, attended South 8th Street School and graduated from Bloomfield Technical School in 1963 before, moving to Belleville in 1965. Jerry was a fun loving all around “Mr. Nice Guy” who loved to talk. He was destined to be a politician.
He attended Fairleigh Dickenson University, Rutherford, at night, for two years. While attending college, Richie had been very active with a CYO organization in Clifton, NJ, the town from which his girlfriend of three years, Roberta ‘Cookie’ DeMolli, lived. At that same time, he held down two jobs to meet school expenses, a full-time job with Wilson Imperial, Newark, and a part-time job at a local Acme Food Market.
Donatiello was drafted into the US Marine Corps on March 3, 1965, and sent to Vietnam on October 5, 1967. He served with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine, 1st Marine Division and attained the rank of Lance Corporal (LCPL).
On November 20, 1967, at the age of 22, Donatiello was killed in action by hostile rifle fire in the vicinity of Quang Namn.
Funeral services were held at Murray’s Funeral Home, Belleville Avenue, Bloomfield, NJ. A solemn high Mass was held at St. Anthony’s Church followed by his burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ.
Information provided by Tom Russomano (friend), Anthony Buccino (author, Belleville Sons Honor Roll) and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
