Angelo John “Sharkey” Scaglione of Northvale passed peacefully at 96 years old on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. He is predeceased by his loving wife Catherine (nee Gangeri). He is survived and loved by all of his children, Theresa and husband Robert Brenner of Satellite Beach, Florida, Joseph Scaglione and partner Fara Evans of Northvale, John and wife Roberta Scaglione of Kihei, Hawaii, Peter and wife Ramona Scaglione of Mercerville, NJ, Thomas and wife Ann Scaglione of San Marcos, California, and Catherine and husband Edmilson Amaral of Sparkill, NY. He is a beloved grandfather and great-grandfather of many grandchildren as well as a loving uncle and friend to so many.
Sharkey was born in Norwood and proudly raised his family with his devoted wife of over 40 years in Northvale. A talented landscape designer all of his life, he opened a landscaping business with his brother Joe (now 101 years old) and eventually went solo employing all of his sons and many local residents of the community. In his retirement, he would sketch pictures which he later turned into cards to share with everyone he loved. His artistry and creativity was a gift to many. His sense of humor and readiness with a joke was part of his charm and incredible personality. He had an uncanny ability to make everyone around him smile. That smile will be dearly missed.
Sharkey was a devoted Detroit Lions fan and it was his hope and dream to see them finally reach a Super Bowl. Go Lions!!
Visiting hours will be Friday, December 27, 2024 from 4:00-8:00 at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale. A Funeral Mass will be held at St Anthony’s Church on Franklin Street in Northvale where Sharkey was a devoted parishioner on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at Rockland Cemetery in Sparkill, NY.
The Funeral Mass can be viewed through the livestream link below:
https://boxcast.tv/channel/angelo-john-sharkey-scaglione-pyygj3cioq5qghrvprak
In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree in Sharkey’s honor,
www.thetreesremember.com/memorial-trees.
www.pizzifuneralhome.com
I am so sorry to hear of Sharky’s passing. He was my Dad’s 1st Cousin and always a favorite family member.
I always went to see him when I visited in New Jersey. He will be missed.
Prayers.
I was one of the local kids that worked for Sharkey it started out as a high school job cutting lawns and working on his landscape designs. It turned out to be a 6 year job working for Sharkey in those six plus years we raised a lot of hell and had many laughs. Sharkey will always be in my heart I loved that man it was hard not to. Our relationship was more than a Boss and employee. I was always invited to his Family functions, cookouts, and what ever was going on. My special times were at Christmas selling Christmas Trees and always being his Santa. I probably can’t talk about the times of Christmas, the people that knew us will understand why. LOL. Myself and my Family would like to send our condolences to the Sacglione Family. R.I.P. Sharkey you will never be forgotten I loved you my Friend God Bless you all. Love Bruce Jahoda
When my sister Cathy asked me to call him more often during COVID, I became so much closer to my dad, even though we were three thousand miles apart. We talked for an hour or two every Sunday morning after church and breakfast. We talked about family. He was so grateful for Cathy’s love and caring for him, and praised her talents in writing and artistic design. We talked politics and sports, but mostly about classic movies. He inspired me to pen three unpublished editions of a book about movie history, focusing on beautiful and talented actresses.
He was a motivating force for me, especially during Christmas. He would decorate nearly every room in our house – so bright with the Christmas spirit, we would joke, “Don’t stand still in our house, Shark might put lights on you.” From him I have that spirit – 100 trees are lit for Christmas on my property right now. As I decorate, I think of him, and the neighbors hear me sing carols and they hear my Chinese wife yelling at me “Too mut! Jeesit Quite!!!” as I continue with melody, “was born on Christmas day.”
He taught me by example to always find only good in people. There was nothing but good in him. He taught me by example to always make those around you happy, to be someone people want to be with and love. I wish I can still be with him. I love him so much.
I miss you, Dad.
I had the privilege of knowing sharkey for more than 20 years…one of the kindest gentlemen I’ve ever met. His artistic ability and attention to detail was something special and his humor and sensibility made him a legend in the town of northvale. He raised an amazing family especially his son Joe who not only is like a father to me he is one of the best friend I will ever have. Rest in peace shark
How do you pay tribute to a true Northvale legend like Sharkey Scaglione?
I suppose you start by reflecting on how you’ll always remember him.
Like so many in Northvale, I first came to work for Sharkey over forty years ago through the association of growing up with his and Catherine’s children. I planned to work for him for only one summer during high school, which ultimately turned into several years. Over that time, I had the unforgettable experience of being exposed to Sharkey’s “special” brand of humor—a mix of wit, sarcasm, and a seemingly endless repertoire of tired, old jokes. The only problem? They were the same million tired, old jokes, told over and over… and over again.
At the time, you’d roll your eyes and beg him to stop, but inevitably, you’d find yourself laughing—if not at the joke, then at Sharkey laughing at his own joke, and once you started laughing with him, you were in for it as there was no stopping him.
Sharkey also had a flair for the dramatic. If someone sneezed around him, he’d stop mid-step, pull that half lit, Backwoods cigar from his mouth, and with a deadpan expression, raise an eyebrow and ask, “Did-ja get any on ya?” Or he’d set you up with a line like, “Oh, is he?” only to reply with, “No, not Izzie—Izzie’s my Aunt!” (Yes, he had an Aunt Isabelle. Get it?)
And then there were the long jokes—the really long ones. One of his classics involved an obnoxious parrot mocking a certain political figure at the time, complete with Sharkey covering one eye to imitate the political figure’s eye patch. Another featured a sign language speaking monkey imitating a man shaving with a straight razor, leading to an elaborate, wordless punchline where Sharkey acted out the monkey’s snarky response to the man’s failed attempt at getting the monkey to harm himself, by pulling down on his lower eye lid (If you know, you know!). Over time, these stories were distilled down to just the punchlines or gestures—like “Pop! Pop! His legs fell off”—and everyone would immediately know which joke he was referencing.
Little did I know how deeply those days and years with Sharkey, and the Scaglione family, would shape my life. Decades later, if someone sneezes, I can’t resist asking, “Did you get any on you?” When I need to quietly tell someone to “get lost,” I pull down my lower eyelid, just like Shark did, imitating that monkey. And despite not having an Aunt Izzie, I’ve shamelessly borrowed her name and relationship to me more times than I can count.
Sharkey’s jokes, sayings, and antics, which once seemed like endless annoyances, have become cherished memories. They connect all of us who were lucky enough to know him, serving as a shared language of humor and nostalgia. These corny, well-worn jokes are now eternal threads linking us to him—and to each other.
Over the years, we’ve retold and reenacted those moments during visits with Sharkey and among ourselves. What once made us roll our eyes now brings a smile. That’s the beauty of growing up: realizing how much those seemingly trivial moments actually mean.
Sharkey had a way of touching lives in only the way he could. Whether we were hired to fix landscape equipment, cut lawns, build walls, sell Christmas trees, or deliver flowers, he gave us the chance to earn our keep and gain a footing in life—all while keeping us laughing. And he did it one terrible joke at a time. If you ask me, that’s one of the greatest legacies a person can leave behind.
Rest in peace, Shark. We’ll all do our best to keep your loving memory alive through the retelling and reenacting of the worst million jokes one man has ever told…
John “Sharkey “ Scaglione was a real character. I worked for him as a kid from 17-19 yrs old ( as did most people from Northvale) He was very kind teaching me the basics of landscaping , then all of a sudden breaking out into a library of jokes. To me he was the Rodney Dangerfield of landscaping!!Havent seen him around town in a good many yrs and was saddened to hear of his passing! Well , Sharkey, St Peter Will be welcoming you at the pearly Gates and when he asks you why do think you deserve to enter Gods Eternal Glory I know your reply will be “ Did you ever hear the one about the? RIP my friend ! Joe G
We are deeply sorry for your loss. We send our love and condolences to the Scaglione family.
-The Coimbra Family
My husband and I met Sharkey a few years ago. We met at Saint Anthony’s. We had normally went to another local church, but we decided to go out to dinner after and thought we would go to St. Anthony’s first. This was our first time there. When my husband and I walked into church, sharkey was wearing a vintage lions jacket. My husband grew up a huge lions fan. Right away my husband tells Sharkey he loves his jacket. There was an instant connection. Sharkey made us laugh and welcomed us into the church. After mass we talked again for about 20 minutes. We then started to go to St. Anthony’s because of him and Father Carlos. Sharkey was a devoured Catholic and an absolute gentleman. After mass he would invite us over to show us his drawings or just to talk. We loved spending time with him. We didn’t know sharkey long, but we will definitely never forget him. Our hearts are broken that he is no longer here, but we know he is in heaven smiling down on us all especially his family. Sharkey was truly one of a kind and it was an honor knowing him. Until we meet again, Sharkey, Rest In Peace.
Thank you for your kind words! He spoke often of you and he really enjoyed your company. He always told me that I should meet you!!
Thank you for making time for him
I am his daughter Cathy
Merry Christmas to you both
My sincere condolences to the family … Cathy and her husband Edgy so kind and sweet … I want to express how great they are my family and Paulo family were invited to there home on Thanksgiving and I had the opportunity to meet this lovely MAN everyone is talking about what a honor and a privilege this man with his family everyone gathered together as ONE… A FAMILY together showing love showing kindness lots of LOVE lots of food and peace and so happy to be together it was beautiful to see and to be all together to celebrate THANKSGIVING anniversaries birthdays it was great I am so grateful and thankful to meet HIM and to be with them all … thank you I AM THANKFUL I am grateful to have had the moment to meet him and share THANKSGIVING with you all. My sincerely condolences prayers go up to you all … he will be missed and his love his memories will live in you all FOREVER what a lovely family and a GREAT MAN… AGAIN SINCERE CONDOLENCES… TO Cathy and family …. Sharon and PAULO and family
Ditto every ones comments above. My Family and the Scaglione Family go back many years. Shark was my teacher, mentor and more importantly, a Great Friend. You could always count on Him and Catherine for help. I will be honored to plant a tree in his memory on my property in San Diego. Shark, I will miss you always, my Friend, and will see you on the Ponder with coffee and sausage and egg sandwiches.
Moe
Words are weak in trying to express what the heart feels, but the heart cannot speak. How do we say goodbye? And so then, John, we’ll simply say, “thank you.” Thank you for all the special memories—your gift of friendship, the sharing of so many stories, and for the unique and beautiful cards you so creatively designed and shared. You were all about faith, family, and friends. Thank you for making us a part of your life and for giving us a window into your wonderful family whom you cherished and adored. We were so blessed to know you, dear friend; and until we meet again, may our Heavenly Father hold you in the palm of His hand. Love always, Barbara & Joe