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Joseph Saker Obituary

Joseph Saker

AGE: 83 • Freehold

Joseph Saker, 83, of Freehold, industry leader, founder and chairman of Foodarama Supermarkets (now Saker ShopRites), and a founding Wakefern member who realized early the importance of education in the supermarket business, died Sunday in Meridian Nursing Home, Shrewsbury. Mr. Saker grew up in Freehold and in the grocery business his grandfather first started in the town nearly a century ago. Wohbe Saker, an immigrant from Lebanon, peddled food from a pushcart in Lower Manhattan before purchasing a small farm just outside Freehold. He opened the family's first grocery in 1916, in a 17-by-40-foot general store located right in town. Wohbe's son John, together with his wife Mary, Mr. Saker's parents, grew the store into a thriving business. But it was the grandson, Mr. Saker, who would eventually grow the business into a multi-store company through his membership in Wakefern. He had the foresight to join Wakefern in 1950, during the first few years of the fledgling cooperative. He began operating under the ShopRite banner, incorporating Foodarama Supermarkets in 1958, and taking the company public in 1965.

"He knew he had to reduce costs to be able to compete with the larger chains and Wakefern the cooperative was a solution to taking costs out of the system and eliminating the middle man," recalled his son, Richard Saker, CEO for Saker ShopRites. An entrepreneur and pioneer, Mr. Saker recognized the importance of balancing business and good government. He understood that grocers needed a voice to represent the food industry before government leaders and this vision led to the creation of the New Jersey Food Council, where he served as founding chairman. He also helped start the Academy of Food Marketing and Food Marketing Educational Foundation at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, one of the few business programs dedicated to the supermarket industry. Mr. Saker had served as a past chairman and member of the Board of Governors of the organization. "He was a guy who could clearly see the big picture. He knew you needed highly educated people in the food industry and that was a very unselfish position for him to take. Not all those people were going to work for him, some were going to work for competitors, but he still saw it as benefitting the industry as a whole," said Richard Saker. And Joseph Saker dedicated himself over the years to his work and Wakefern.

During the early days of the cooperative, when the ShopRite concept was taking off, members helped each other and often attended one another's store openings.

In Wakefern's history book, A Symphony of Soloists: The Story of Wakefern and ShopRite, Mr. Saker recalled one store opening in 1954 as "swarming with customers" and nearly overwhelming the staff. "I yelled out…'Get me a register,' and soon I was punching the keys. I spent most of the day there," Joseph Saker said of the day.

Richard Saker said his dad was often happiest behind the counter or working in the aisles.

"Someone asked him one day what his hobbies were," recalled Richard Saker. "He said, 'work and I love every minute of it.' That's just the way dad was and that describes him and his generation, the early founders of Wakefern. Their lives were dedicated to their business, and they loved what they did." Mr. Saker retired in 2005. A year later, Richard Saker took the company private and renamed it Saker ShopRites.

A graduate of Freehold High School, Joseph Saker received an honorary degree in commercial science from St. Joseph's University. He was a member of the Board of Directors, Officers and Finance Committee of Wakefern. He was a past chairman and former member of the Board of Directors of the New York State Food Merchants Association.

He also served as a past president and charter member of the CentraState Medical Center Board of Trustees, Century Club member of the Monmouth County Boy Scouts, Century Club member of Christian Brothers Academy, and past Grand Knight and member of Knights of Columbus. Mr. Saker loved music and dancing and taught himself the piano. He would dance and sing duets with his wife, Gloria, whenever he had the opportunity at family or social events. His life, his work, and his success recall the words to his favorite song, "The Impossible Dream."

Mr. Saker is survived by his wife, Gloria (nee Tatarinchik); his children and their spouses, Richard and Laura, Nadine and Andrew Mockler, Denise Saker, Lisa Saker, Joseph and Sheri, and Thomas and Kristen; 14 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27 at St. Rose of Lima Chapel, Freehold. Funeral services will be private. Family and close friends are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28 at St. Rose of Lima Chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of the Freeman Funeral Home, 47 East Main St., Freehold. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations to the CentraState Healthcare Foundation or the Meridian Health Foundation. Please visit Joe's memorial website at www.freemanfuneralhomes.com where you may access directions, make a donation and leave condolences.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Asbury Park Press on Sep. 26, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Saker

Not sure what to say?





Jim Beecher

October 15, 2012

Very sorry for you loss Tommy and the Saker family. Your dad was a great person, and good for the community. Always brought us drinks to the games.

Patricia Washington

October 8, 2012

To the Saker family very sorry to hear of Joes passing our condolences to you all. He was a wonderful man to work for. May he reat in peace.

WAYNE PASSOFF

October 7, 2012

TO RICHARD AND FAMILY SO SADDEN BY THE LOSS OF A HORSE IN INDUSTRY AND A TAME LION IN LIFE I WILL ALWAYS ADMIRE HIM AND SUPPORT THE CHARITIES HE HELPED THERE WOULD BE NO FREEHOLD HOSPITAL WITHOUT HIM HE ALSO HELPED AND SUPPOPTED THE GROWTH OF OUR FAMILY AND BUSINESS LOVE YOU ALL WAYNE PASSOFF

Jane Bazzoni

September 30, 2012

A tribute to a life well lived. I will always fondly remember the early days. Working on the agreement w/ Mr. Kaplan to open the 1st Shop Rite at Collingswood; and fundraising to get the Freehold Area Hospital (now CentraState) started.

Jane O'Leary

September 30, 2012

Mr.Saker will always be remembered with admiration and respect. I am fortunate to have known him. My sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.

Mark Linnus

September 29, 2012

Richard, Joe, Tom and family, My deepest sympathy during this difficult time. He was a gentleman.

deanne Tash

September 29, 2012

Lisa, jen and family . my heart goes out to you wih the loss of your father/grandfather. He was the sweetest man and while i was babysitting jen was always very kind to me , my sincerest condolences and loive to your family Deanne (Pratt) Tash

Debbie Dee

September 29, 2012

..and he said"Come walk with me...and he did.."to the Saker families..my deepest condolences.....Respectfully

Jeanette Fry

September 28, 2012

My deepest sympathy to the entire Saker Family

September 28, 2012

Sincere sympathy goes out to the family. It was a pleasure to know Mr. Saker as well as to work for him. He made his employees feel appreciated and respected and we felt the same towards him. RIP and may Gods love shine down on your family.

Jean and Stan Hansen

September 28, 2012

My husband and I both retired from Shop-Rite in Neptune , N.J .We tell so many people that if you were trained by the Sakers , you could work anywhere.

Marsha Jones

September 27, 2012

Mr. & Mrs. Saker were my best friend Lisa's parents and treated me like another one of their children. Please accept my heartfelt condolensces on the passing of a wonderful man and hugs and prayers to the family that I still think of and remember so fondly after all these years. Love & Prayers, Marsha King (Jones) Pemberton, NJ

Fred and Debra Talmadge

September 27, 2012

To The Saker Family - May you take comfort in knowing what a well loved and respected man Mr. Saker was and feel comforted by all the thoughts and prayers that are being sent your way. Our deepest sympathies are with you all.

Michael Mitrow

September 27, 2012

My deepest sympathies to the family. Thoughts and Prayers to all. God Bless.

September 27, 2012

To The Saker Family,My deepest sympathy to you all.A great man,may he rest in peace. Mary Talerico

Raymond Rusay

September 27, 2012

Deepest sympathy to the saker family. A man that I have admired and respected for nearly 40 years. My prayers are with you.

September 27, 2012

My Mom worked for Joe as a secretary and she said he was the perfect gentleman. Joe and family was also on my TV guide delivery route, a really nice man and family.
Sincerely,
Grant Hnilicka

September 27, 2012

Dear Gloria and family. I was deeply sorry to hear of Joe's passing. I will always remember the many good times that Joe and I shared with the two of you. Please accept my sympathy. Lynn Azzolina, Red Bank

September 27, 2012

A MODEL FOR ALL

One of the joys in life is meeting a person who affects your well being, often before you realize it. This is an astute person of good will who works in silence and seeks no accolades; his gratification is in the doing of something helpful for others. Joe Saker was such a person.

With his passing, many of us of the food industry community have lost a colleague, mentor and friend who exemplified what the deportment and life of a true citizen should be.

Joe was not helpful to just those he knew. He would help and do the right thing for all who passed his way. He was a friend of humanity.

Having crossed his path has been a privilege for me, and I shall always be grateful for his friendship, leadership and kindness.

Michael Hersh
Fords, NJ

Greg Joseph

September 27, 2012

My sincerest sympathy to Richard and Family, I remember Your Dad as a Man We admired very much.

Marie Berkefeld

September 27, 2012

May you rest in peace.

mel

September 27, 2012

I work for saker shoprite in Woodbridge .it is a wonderful company to work for. I send my deepest sympathy to your family may you rest in peace

Frank Callahan

September 26, 2012

As a high school student working part time at Shoprite in Freehold, Joe Saker was never too busy to stop and say "Hi how are you doing?" He was always interested in anything that may help the store become even better, even from a 16 year old kid. Now over 55 years later I still remember him and his interest in his workers.

Fredrick Murtha

September 26, 2012

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Stuart C Brown

September 26, 2012

Dear Saker family,
Although I never met Mr. Saker (Joseph) personally, I learned many years later from my mother that the Saker's were very generous to our family after my father's death in 1967 after a car accident. Please accept our most heartfelt condolences.

William Bersey

September 26, 2012

I was deeply sadened to here of the passing of this giant in the industry. Mr Saker was the real deal and will be greately missed. My sympathy to the Saker family and all who will miss him.

Marguerite Siegel

September 26, 2012

My deepest sympathy to the entire Saker Family.

September 26, 2012

We are very sorry to hear about your lost. Mr. & Mrs. Straniero

Connie Cicalese

September 26, 2012

I have worked in ShopRite of Freehold for over 34 years. I remember when I was first there, as a cashier, Mr. Saker came in and shook my hand, introducing himself to me. He asked how I liked working there and proceeded to bag for me. He made me feel like I mattered to him and to the store. I've never forgotten his warm greeting and how he would come to visit on holidays, to stop and chat with all the employees. My condolences and prayers to the Saker family.

Harold Warn

September 26, 2012

My sincere sympathy to the Saker family. He was such a great person.

Dawn Smith

September 26, 2012

My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.

September 26, 2012

TO RICHARD AND FAMILY MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY FROM WILLIE DAVIS AND FAMILY

Louis Gallo

September 26, 2012

I was so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.

Louis Gallo

September 26, 2012

A better man you will never meet.
He was a great boss.

Tanaquil Antoine

September 26, 2012

Denise and Nadine,
We attended grammar school together. Though contact has been lost, I just want to send you and your family love at this most difficult time.
Celebrate the joy and love of your father's life.

Peace,
Tanaquil Lattimer Antoine

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