Obituary of Samuel J. Morano

Samuel J. “Hoof” Morano, 74, of Howell passed away on Friday, February 16, 2018 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township.  Sam was born in Paterson, raised in Little Falls and settled here in 1974.  As a young boy, he inherited his father’s nickname “Hoof” from hoofing from Paterson to Little Falls to make money delivering newspapers.  He was a US Navy veteran, starting his duties aboard a Naval vessel in the Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis and also served during the war in Vietnam.  Hoof was a plant engineer for Westinghouse in Bloomfield, ITT in Clark, the Laminaire Corp in Rahway, and most recently, Oxford Industries in Carteret. 

He was a member of the American Legion and the American Motorcycle Association.  A parishioner of the Church of St. Veronica, Hoof was known as a jokester.  He was a true engineer, possessing a desire to figure things out, showing attention to detail and an ability to think logically.  Hoof loved Harley Davidson motorcycles and had owned two throughout the years. 

He is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Betty J. Morano of Howell; children, Steve Morano and his wife, Corinne Mason of Spartanburg, SC, Cristina Morano of Howell, Sam Morano and his wife, Laurie of Cumming, GA, and John Morano of Howell; five grandchildren, Vinny, Matt, Joey, Nick and Morgan; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 from 3:00 to 8:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 9:30 AM for the procession to his 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at the St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 31 Asbury Road, Farmingdale.  For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com