Michael P. Vanacore Jr.

Michael P. Vanacore, Jr., 91, of South Amboy, NJ, and an icon in the cosmetology school industry, passed away peacefully on Friday December 22, 2023.
He was born on August 10, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY, grew up, along with his brothers, Anthony, Fred and John, in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, and was the youngest son of the late Michael and Anna Vanacore. Michael graduated from George Westinghouse Vocational High School in 1950, served his country in the United States Army and graduated from the Queens Beauty Institute for Cosmetology which began his lifelong career in the cosmetology industry. He opened his first salon, Mona Lisa Beauty Salon, in 1960 and went on to become a licensed cosmetology school teacher & director with multiple licenses & certifications.
He was a Regional Director for Queens Beauty Institute and Wilfred Beauty Academy, Vice President of Ultissima Beauty Institute and Learning Institute for Beauty Sciences, was a State Board exam supervisor, was appointed to the Advisory Committee for the State of NY, organized & conducted Teacher Training Seminars around the country, served on the Board of Directors & Executive Board for the A.A.C.S. (American Association of Cosmetology Schools), was President of the NYS Beauty School Association, was a Special School Examiner for N.A.C.C.A.S. (the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences), was appointed to the Advisory Committee for the NYS Education Department, held the position of Commissioner of N.A.C.C.A.S.and received many awards for his lifetime achievements such as the A.A.C.S. Director of the Year and the Nicolas Cimagila Lifetime Achievement award.
Over the years, Michael was an active member of the Italian Club of Staten Island, serving on the Board of Directors and as First Vice President. He dedicated a lot of his time to fundraising, serving as Chairman for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Special Olympics, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
He enjoyed traveling, dancing, double stuffed Oreos, anything chocolate, gambling in Vegas & Atlantic City and spending time with his family, his children, granddaughters and great granddaughter. He had a presence and smile that was as bright as the sun and was always the best dressed person in the room.
Michael is survived by his beloved daughters Christine Tumminaro and her husband Joseph, and Lisa Erickson and her husband Kenneth, by his adoring granddaughters Kristin Leonardis and her husband Thomas, and Brianna Baals and her husband George, by his cherished great granddaughter Hailey, and by his loving nephew and niece Michael and Toni Ann Vanacore.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at Michael Hegarty & John Vincent Scalia Home For Funerals and Cremation Service, 3377 US Highway 9, Old Bridge, New Jersey.
A Funeral service will be at 7:00 PM on Wednesday at Michael Hegarty & John Vincent Scalia Home For Funerals and Cremation Service located at 3377 US Highway 9 Old Bridge, New Jersey 08857.
The family will gather on Thursday morning at 10:30 am at the funeral home before departing for Resurrection Cemetery, Staten Island, NY.
At the families request, in lieu of flowers please consider donating to The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Michael's memory: https://www.stjude.org/donate
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.HegartyScaliaFuneralHome.com