Carmine Mauro Ruocco

Carmine Mauro Ruocco, 94, of Stanhope, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at his
home, surrounded by family, on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
Born on July 19, 1931, in Futani, Italy, Carmine was the beloved son of the late
Salvatore and Orsola Ruocco. Growing up on a farm in Futani, a small mountainous
town in the Salerno region, Carmine, alongside his siblings, learned how to appreciate
the value of growing and harvesting homegrown food. In 1959, he immigrated to the
United States, in pursuit of the "American Dream" and settled in Netcong, NJ, with his
lovely bride, Margherita. In 1985, he moved to Stanhope where he enjoyed spending
summer evenings looking out over Lake Musconetcong and welcoming friends and
family to his patio. Carmine was a long-time parishioner of St. Michael's Church in
Netcong and truly lived a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work.
Carmine acquired many skills before finding his passion as a pizza maker. Upon
arriving in Netcong, he worked at Dover Handbag and as a local landscaper. Then,
Carmine served as an Ordnance Technician at Picatinny Arsenal. Deciding to revisit his
child-like love for food, he then worked as a chef at Senatore's Restaurant in Randolph,
NJ. His passion for cooking inspired him, alongside his brother, Aniello, to co-found
Post Pizza in Netcong. In 1968, Carmine's Pizzeria opened its doors to the public, and
in 1989, Carmine's expanded from a pizzeria to a sit-down restaurant. Over the years,
with the help of his sons, Joseph and Salvatore, Carmine began offering catering as
well. Along his career path journey, Carmine demonstrated his tireless work ethic,
dedication to his family, and a deep love for the Netcong community.
A proud member of the Netcong-Stanhope Rotary Club, Carmine enjoyed an active and
fulfilling life. He served as Vice-President for several years and received recognition for
his long-term dedication to the club. He always looked forward to the Thursday Rotary
luncheons. He was an avid golfer and took pride in teaching both of his grandsons to
golf. During his golden years, time with his golf buddies was the highlight of his week.
From growing his own grapes to searching the local farms for the best crops, one of his
greatest pleasures was making home-made wine, every October. In his free time, he
enjoyed tending to his gardens. While treasuring spending summers in his native
hometown, Futani, he always maintained a deep connection to his Italian roots.
Carmine was predeceased by his parents and five siblings, Antonio Ruocco, Aniello
Ruocco, Mauro Ruocco, Marco Ruocco, and Rosa Amorelli.
Love of family was at the heart of everything in Carmine's life. He is survived by his
devoted wife of 66 years, Margherita Ruocco; his two sons, Salvatore Ruocco (Michele)
and Joseph Ruocco (Pamela); and his cherished grandchildren, Carmine Justin
Ruocco, Amanda Goldenberg (Aaron), Dominic Carmine Ruocco (Alessia), Gianna
Ruocco, and Sabrina Ruocco. He was the proud great-grandfather of Dominic Carmine
Ruocco, Jr. As an admired uncle, he is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews,
great nieces, and great nephews.
Carmine's legacy will forever be known as the founder and owner of Carmine's Pizzeria
& Restaurant on Main Street in Netcong. For decades, Carmine's Pizzeria has been a
beloved cornerstone of the Netcong community, a reflection of his warmth, generosity,
and passion for food and hospitality. His patrons will always remember his welcoming
smile, his infectious laugh, and his strolls down Main Street. Carmine Ruocco was not
only beloved by his family but by the family he created throughout Netcong and the
surrounding communities. His legacy is living forever beyond the roads of Main Street.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 1, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at Morgan
Funeral Home, 31 Main Street, Netcong, NJ. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be
celebrated on Monday, February 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM at St. Michael's Church,
Netcong. Interment will follow at Stanhope Union Cemetery.
Condolences may be shared at NetcongFuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Carmine's memory may be made to the
American Cancer Society (cancer.org) or the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org).