Fr. Eugene Palumbo

PALUMBO
Fr. Eugene SDB (1922-2013), died at St. Joseph's Hospital in Wayne, NJ, at 3:20 PM on September 11. He was 91 years old and had been a professed Salesian of Don Bosco for 72 years and a priest for 62 years. Fr. Palumbo was born in Paterson, NJ, on January 16, 1922. His family were members of the Salesian parish of St. Anthony, and he was baptized there. He did his high school at the Salesian Minor Seminary, made his first profession of vows on September 8, 1941, and graduated from Don Bosco College in Newton, NJ in 1944. Fr. Palumbo taught at Don Bosco Prep High School in Ramsey, NJ from 1944-1945, and Hope Haven Orphanage in Marrero, LA from 1945-1947. He studied theology at the Salesian College in Aptos, CA, where he was ordained on June 17, 1951. Fr. Palumbo later earned master's degrees in Education and English. After teaching for one year at Don Bosco Technical High School in Paterson (1951-1952), Fr. Palumbo served as Vice Principal of Don Bosco Technical High School in Boston from 1952 to 1964 and then as Director there from 1966 to 1975. During those years, he oversaw the school's expansion in enrollment and the addition of a large building that housed a gym, swimming pool, classrooms and labs. For 17 years (1975-1992) he was Administrator of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Mahwah, NJ. He undertook the building of a large, contemporary-style church to replace the little one that had stood there since 1915. In the ensuing years he helped out with sacramental needs in numerous parishes in the Diocese of Paterson and the Archdiocese of Newark, used his journalistic talents to produce various writings on religious topics, and resided at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey. He is survived by the Salesian Community of Don Bosco Prep, as well as his brother James (Diana) Palumbo of Toms River, NJ, and numerous nieces and nephews. Fr. Palumbo will be waked in Mary Help of Christians Chapel at Don Bosco Prep High School, 492 Franklin Turnpike, Ramsey, on Friday, September 13, from 2:30-5 PM. and from 7-9 PM. The Rosary will be prayed at 5 PM and a Wake Service will be celebrated at 8 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 47 Island Road, in Mahwah, on Saturday, September 14, at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow in Mahwah Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Don Bosco Prep Student Assistance Fund. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, 109 Darlington Ave, Ramsey. Please send tributes, memories and condolences to www.vanemburghsneider.com.