Obituary of Leonard Cerisano

LEONARD J. CERISANO, 59, of HOWELL, died Sunday, June 29, at Hackensack University Medical Center. Mr. Cerisano was born and raised in Paterson and had lived in Haledon and Clifton before moving to Howell in 2001. Mr. Cerisano was a special education teacher for Passaic County Technical Institute High School, Wayne, for 37 years, retiring in 2007. He was the adviser to the Class of 1978 and the Student Council. Mr. Cerisano was a wrestling coach and the 1997 Teacher of the Year. He was a communicant at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Colts Neck. Mr. Cerisano was a second degree knight with the Knights of Columbus, Paterson. He was the world's greatest Jets fan. He was predeceased by his parents, Leonard and Rose Cerisano. He is survived by his wife, Michele Cerisano of Howell; a daughter, Mariah Paige Cerisano, at home; and a brother, Michael Cerisano of Fairfield. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Clayton and McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road, Route 524, Freehold Township. Family and friends may gather at 8 a.m. Thursday for the Rite of Committal, followed by his 9 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Chapel, North Main Street, Farmingdale. Interment will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Leonard may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106 for research. For directions, information or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.