Michael Alberico Petrillo

Family Man Michael A. Petrillo, 78, Veteran, Esteemed Law Enforcement Officer, and Devoted Family Man.
Michael A. Petrillo, a decorated law enforcement officer and longtime investigator, who served both his country and his community with unwavering dedication, died on Monday at the Villa Marie Claire in Saddle River, N.J. He was 78. His passing came surrounded by his beloved wife, Pamela, and his four children, Stephen, Deserie, Michelle, and Alexandria.
Born on December 3, 1946, in Newark, N.J., to Peter and Mildred Petrillo (née Cubellis), Michael was raised in the city's Old First Ward alongside his late siblings, Frank and Paula, known affectionately as "Aunt Penny." His early years were steeped in the traditions of his Italian American heritage, and though his family relocated to Cedar Grove in 1957, Newark always remained an indelible part of his identity.
In 1967, as the Vietnam War raged, Michael enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Hoist. He took immense pride in his naval service, which shaped his lifelong sense of duty and discipline. That same year, he married his first wife and welcomed his first child, Stephen, followed by daughters Deserie in 1970 and Michelle in 1972.
Following his honorable service, Michael pursued a career in law enforcement, following in his brother Frank's footsteps, graduating from the Newark Police Academy in 1971. He began his career patrolling the city's streets before advancing to undercover tactical operations and ultimately finding his calling as a narcotics detective. For nearly three decades, he worked tirelessly to uphold justice, earning a reputation as a tenacious and principled officer.
As a father, Michael raised his children in Newark's North Ward, ensuring they had a strong foundation rooted in faith, education, and community. While they attended First Avenue School, worshipped at St. Francis Xavier, played with their friends, rode bikes, and hopped from one stoop to the next, he spent more than twenty years making sure that while they may not always have had what they wanted, they always had what they needed. While Stephen disappeared every childhood summer to Miami Beach to be with his grandparents, Deserie and Michelle came to learn the joys of the Jersey Shore. Whether it was Long Branch, Wildwood, Seaside, or Point Pleasant, summer seashore jaunts were a defining element of that era.
Life took a new turn in the mid-1990s when Michael met and fell in love with Pamela. After a courtship filled with memorable evenings in New York City, they married in 1997, celebrating aboard a Hudson River dinner cruise. In 1999, to the delight of all, they welcomed their daughter, Alexandria, bringing new joy into his life.
Despite retiring from the Newark Police Department, Michael was never one to remain idle. In 1999, he embarked on a second career as an investigator with the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender. There, he became a mentor to many, leveraging his vast experience to train the next generation of investigative professionals. His ability to balance his law enforcement background with the intricacies of criminal defense made him a respected and valued member of the office, where he worked up until his final days.
In 2006, he and Pamela found their perfect retreat in Long Branch, N.J., a seaside town where he had spent childhood summers with his grandmother more than fifty years earlier. Their home became a hub of family gatherings, sun-drenched afternoons, and nostalgic reflections, as Michael delighted in sharing stories of the past while walking along the beachfront.
For more than 25 years, Michael waged a valiant battle against metastasized prostate cancer, defying expectations and living on his own terms. He endured the illness with quiet resolve, focusing on the people and work he loved most. Michael loved his life and took tremendous pride in the success of his children and cared very much about their happiness. Michael was a protector and a provider. Michael was a good man who was loved and who will never be forgotten.
He is survived by his wife, Pamela; his son, the Hon. Stephen L. Petrillo and his partner, Adrian Wilkins, whom he affectionately called his "other son"; his daughters Deserie and Michelle; his daughter Michelle's partner, David Morales, and their daughter, Angelina, his cherished granddaughter; and his youngest daughter, Alexandria. He is also survived by a grandson, Luis Bryant - Petrillo. Michael's wife and family will miss him for the rest of their lives.
Funeral Services will begin on Saturday, February 1 at 9:30 a.m. at Shook's Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at St. Lucy's Church, Newark. Visitation will be on Friday, January 31 from 2-9 p.m. at the funeral home. For full obituary, memories and condolences, please visit shookscedargrove.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Website: www.mskcc.org
Phone: 646-227-2667
Villa Marie Claire Hospice
Website: www.villamarieclaire.org
Phone: 551-248-4800