John Arroyo

(Courier News)
(Home News Tribune)

JOHN ARROYO
AGE: 45 SOMERVILLE
John Arroyo, 45, of Somerville, died on April 6, 2009 at his home. Mr. Arroyo was born in the Bronx, NY, on December 15, 1963 and was a long-time resident of Somerset County. He was a 1981 graduate of the August Martin High School in Queens, NY and then attended Plattsburg State University in New York for studies in photography. Mr. Arroyo previously worked as a Project Manager with Video Corporation of American in Franklin Township; Technology Analyst for Sanofi- Aventis in Bridgewater, a Director of Resource Development with the Somerset County United Way, and most recently as the Director of Special Events with the New Jersey American Cancer Society's Eastern Division in Cedar Knolls. Mr. Arroyo was an active volunteer for numerous Somerset County non-profit organizations, some of which included the PeopleCare Center in Bridgewater, Somerset County Association of Young Professionals, Community Emergency Response Team of Somerville, and Somerset County "Leadership Somerset" program. Mr. Arroyo was an active stage performer with the Somerset Valley Players in Hillsborough and Villagers Barn Theatre in Franklin and previously was also a scholastic print and photo journalist. He also enjoyed the fine arts and creative writing.
Mr. Arroyo was predeceased by his mother, Myrna Reyes Arroyo in 1965. He is survived by his father and step-mother, Juan Francis and Evelyn Arroyo of Saylorsburg, PA, and step-mother Sonya Nieves of the Bronx, NY. He also leaves behind two sisters, Michelle Arroyo-Smith and her husband Stewart Smith of North Brunswick, and Jennifer Arroyo of Atlanta, Georgia; and four brothers, Omar of the Bronx, NY, Luis of Florida, Johnathan of Westbury, Long Island, and Stephen of Saylorsburg, PA. He is also survived by his nieces, Rachel and Chelsea of North Brunswick, as well as his beloved uncle, aunt and cousins, Luis & Iris and Mark, Lauren and Lisa Arroyo of Baltimore, Maryland.
Services will be held 8pm on Saturday in the Bruce VanArsdale Funeral Home at 111 North Gaston Avenue in Somerville, (908-725-3111). Family and friends may pay their final respects at viewings at 7-9pm Friday, April 10, 2009, and 2-4pm and 7-9pm Saturday, April 11, 2009, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John Arroyo Memorial Fund, c/o The PeopleCare Center, 120 Finderne Avenue, Suite 1, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807. For additional information, send an e-mail message to Reverend John Graf, Jr. at: ministerman@verizon.net or call (908) 781-0470. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.brucecvanarsdalefuneralhome.com.