Bernard L. DeCristofaro Jr.

Obituary of Bernard L. DeCristofaro, Jr.

Bernard L. DeCristofaro, Jr., passed away suddenly on December 27, 2025, at Hackettstown Hospital surrounded by his loved ones. He was 70 years old. Bernie had recently received a liver transplant and was full of hope and gratitude in his final days.

Bernie grew up in the Germania Park area of Rockaway Township, spending endless hours playing baseball and touch football, camping out in the backyard, sneaking rhubarb wine, and bow hunting rabbits with friends he would have for the rest of his life.

He graduated from Morris Catholic High School in 1973 where he played baseball and basketball (yes, really) and later returned as an assistant baseball coach. In 1974 he was the League's Most Valuable Pitcher for Wharton Legion Post 91, throwing back-to-back no-hitters. Those games landed him in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame in the amateur section. He received his associate degree from County College of Morris, where he also played baseball and pitched a perfect game at the "advanced" age of 28.

One of the many highlights of his baseball career was sharing the field with his then 13-year-old son, Nick, in 2001 as was chronicled in the local newspaper:

Father and son team re-learn the wonder of baseball | | newjerseyhills.com

Bernie's ability to play the sport of baseball was only surpassed by his ability to teach and coach it at a high level. Baseball was his passion, and he loved sharing his knowledge with players of all ages. From coaching Mount Olive Little League with his children Allie and Nick, he moved on to be the pitching coach at Pope John High School from 2000-2008 and again from 2017-2024. There he touched the lives of countless players and coaches, imparting wisdom like "Throw the damn slider for a strike-it's not that hard" while encouraging their development and forming lifelong relationships on and off the field.

Bernie was a member of the Pastime Club in Mendham for 45 years, where he previously served as a Board Member and was the current House Chairman. He joined the Morris County Major Baseball League (MCMBL) Mendham Pastime A's baseball team in 1976 as a pitcher, becoming a player-manager in 1985. Over the next 36 years (with a brief "retirement" from 2016-2019) he managed the Pastime A's to win 15 Morris County Championships. The friendships he formed during these years were numerous and priceless.

Professionally, Bernie worked his entire 44-year career in the Dover General/Saint Clare's Hospital Pharmacy Department, retiring as the Purchasing Agent in 2018. Many of his coworkers quickly became his friends; he was always there to lend an ear through both the joys and challenges of life. Work with Bernie was full of surprises, whether it was being asked by a doctor hunting buddy of his to bring a rifle to the pharmacy for him, startling an unsuspecting overnight pharmacist when he arrived in the department at 4 am during baseball season so he could get out early to go to a game, or playing hunting videos on the conference room television during lunch. He was a constant in the hospital through many changes; everyone loved hearing his infectious laughter and knew his notes immediately by his impeccable handwriting.

While he lived most of his adult life in Mount Olive, in his retirement Bernie moved to Hardwick where his beloved Brittany, Bailey, was his constant companion. He loved watching his grandchildren play sports, hunting for birds and deer, tinkering with his truck, boating, working outdoors, and lending a helping hand to whomever needed it.

Bernie's charismatic smile and genuine care for others made him friends wherever he went. It was often joked that if you didn't play baseball, hunt, or BS about stocks or the Yankees with him, you certainly knew someone who did. He had a remarkable ability to bust "onions", as well as being a cheek-pincher extraordinaire. He never missed a chance to tell those close to him how important they were to him and always closed his calls and texts to family and friends with "I love you."

He is reunited in eternal rest with his son Nicholas DeCristofaro, his parents Bernie Sr. and Laura DeCristofaro, his sister Bernadette Hill, and his nieces Kimberly Saul and Michelle Barron.

He is survived by his wife Kristeen, his daughter Allie McColligan, his adored grandchildren Gavin, Cole, and Kylee McColligan, and his former wife Donna. He is also survived by his sister Mary Ann Guilmette (Richard); his mother-in-law Diane Lehnert; his father-in-law Rob Lehnert Sr. (Lina); his in-laws Jim Hill, Dorothy Barron (Mark), James Freeman (Beth), and Rob Lehnert Jr. (Liz Steeves); and nieces and nephews Scott Guilmette (Kimberly), Kim Erica Garay (John), Cheri Porcarro (Justin), Sandra Barron, William Freeman, and Sara Freeman (Todd Vanderhoof) as well as numerous extended family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 2nd from 3-7 pm at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, January 3rd at 11:30 am at St. Joseph Church, 6 New Street, Mendham followed by interment at Hilltop Cemetery in Mendham.

In lieu of flowers, and for those wishing to honor his memory may make a donation to the Mt. Olive Baseball Softball Association, where his grandchildren play and carry on his love of the game. It is our hope that his passion for the sport will be passed on to the next generation of ball players.

Donations may be made by sending checks to:

Mount Olive Baseball Softball Association

PO Box 682

Budd Lake, New Jersey 07828

or via Venmo: @MOBSA2022

https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3004217669189632409&created=1766940515

Please note "In Memory of Bernie DeCristofaro" in the memo.

As the Lefty would say, "I love you all!" As his legacy, he would want everyone to live to live their lives full of love, providing a helping hand, and with a grateful heart.