Carl V Sicola

CARL V. SICOLA 68

Dedicated Father, Grandfather, Vietnam Veteran
And Friend to All


Detective Carl Sicola (ret.) entered into Eternal Rest on Tuesday October 11, 2011, with his family by his bedside. He was born in Jersey City, NJ and moved to Scotch Plains, NJ in 1955.
He graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in 1962 and attended St. Cloud University in Minnesota.
Carl was a United States Army Veteran of the Vietnam War serving in Active Duty from 1967 - 1968, maintaining his active reserve status until 1973, after returning from Vietnam he joined the Scotch Plains Police Department in 1968.

From 1969 - 1970 Carl worked with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office and in 1971 joined the Union County Prosecutor's Office with the Narcotics Strike Force. In 1975 Carl was promoted to Detective. In May of 1979 he was awarded the Valor Award from the Union County Cheifs of Police Association, he also received the Union County Two Hundred Club Valor Award.
Carl was honored by the Union County Prosecutor's office as being Municipal Police Officer of the Year in 1978 and 1985. In 1992 he received the Scotch Plains Police Department's Honorable Service Medal, in 1995 Detective Sicola received the Scotch Plains Police Department's Exceptional Duty Medal. All medals and awards where received for heroic deeds accomplished while on duty.

Carl was instrumental in initiating the Drug Awareness Resistance Education program, and the Delphi Team, a community based organization created to improve police-school relations. He also set up Adopt A Cop. Due to Detective Sicolas' efforts the Scotch Plains Police Department was the first in Union County to require community service for first-time offenders.

Detective Sicola received countless letters of commendation from groups and individuals as diverse as the U.S. Secret Service, Knights of Columbus Council 5730 Shield Award and letters of commendation from than U.S. Congressman Matthew Rinaldo.

Detective Sicola was Past President and Life Member of the Scotch Plains P.B.A. Local 87 and was a Life Member of the New Jersey Narcotic Enforcement Association.
In 1995 prior to his retirement Carl was appointed the first Juvenile Officer in Scotch Plains.

Carl was a faithful and devoted member of St. Bartholomew Church and a member of the St. Bartholomew Academy Advisory Board. He also organized the annual golf outing fundraiser for the Academy.
After retiring from the Scotch Plains Police Department, Carl was employed by the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education as the district's Attendance Officer. He was involved in all aspects of the school community making an impact on the lives of many athletes, students and colleagues. He was an assistant football coach, involved with the DECA organization and one of the original members of the Delphi group, a community service organization which founded the Student Leadership Conference. He will be greatly missed in his many roles at Scotch Plains Fanwood High School.
Carl will be remembered for all the qualities he possessed-he was kind, humble, courageous, supportive, thoughtful, loving and very generous to a fault-to name a few. His smile and laugh were infectious as well as his gift of story telling. In addition to his adoration for his grandchildren, Carl loved to vacation in Cape Cod, Mass. He had a passion for golf and enjoyed the commaraderie of friends and family, dining at the finest restaurants in New Jersey or simply sitting around a kitchen table enjoying the company he shared and the delicious Italian meal he had prepared.

He was predeceased by his parents, Angela (Freda) and Dominick Sicola; and his son, Carlo, Jr.
Survivors include his beloved children; son Kevin and his wife Maryann and daughter Angel and her husband, John Dapkins. He is also survived by his many grandchildren whom he cherished; Michael, Tyler and Gianna Sicola; and Brody and Cassandra Dapkins. Survivors also include a sister Dolores and husband Peter Gudzak; An uncle, Aldo Freda and wife Anne, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.


A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday October 15, at 10am at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church, 2032 Westfield Ave., Scotch Plains, NJ. The viewing will be on Friday, October 14 from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM at St. Bartholomew's Church. Internment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ. Arrangements are by Rossi Funeral Home. Letters of remembrance can be left on the website at www.therossifuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Bartholomew Academy, 2032 Westfield Ave., Scotch Plains, NJ; The Carlo V. Sicola Memorial Scholarship, c/o SPF Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 123, Fanwood, NJ; and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis , TN 38105.