Nicholas "Nick" Russo Jr.

Nicholas (Nick) Russo, Jr. left us unexpectedly on November 4 th, 2025, at the much-too-young age of 68. His heart had given so much that it had no more to give, and he made the inevitable trip to see all those who had left before him, his beloved wife Carol in particular.

Born March 15, 1957, to the late Nicholas Russo, Sr. and Mary Perkalis, Nick lived a childhood that might seem to be a far-fetched screenplay that never sees the light of day. He was raised in Morristown, shared his home with a raccoon named Abraham, accidentally killed a guinea hen he was keeping as a pet, spray painted "Led Zeppelin" on the top of a slaughterhouse in Long Valley (while hanging upside down), and hitchhiked to and from Kansas on a whim, just to name a few.

In 1976 he was introduced to the love of his life, Carol. For the next 43 years they created a life and a love that was forged on struggle, commitment, and persistence. They did what they needed to get by. Carol stayed home while the kids were young and then worked at Burger King and QuickChek until her untimely passing in 2019. Over the years, Nick carried stacks of shingles for one company. He washed windows for another. For yet another he poured concrete. He worked 80+ hour weeks for years at Quirk Moving, then for 20 years at the Herbert L. Farkas Company, where he rose from warehouse employee to operations manager in the humble school furniture industry. When that company went under, he delivered furniture with his S10 pickup, pumped gas at QuickChek, and ended his career working in the mail room of the QuickChek support center in Whitehouse Station. He worked as hard as he could so that his three children and his wife could have what they needed, and more.

When not working, Nick enjoyed fishing, camping, telling stories, screaming at his television during New York Giants' games, playing ball in the house even though mom would get mad, hosting Memorial Day barbecues at that house on Mountain Ave, people watching at QuickChek while drinking coffee, watching the Three Stooges and various westerns, and perhaps most of all, watching his children (and grandchildren) play sports.

Nick was a proud volunteer in Hackettstown, coaching Plaza Medics Baseball from 1991 to 1995, Firemen Baseball from 1996 to 1998, and coaching youth football during that timeframe as well. In 1993, he helped found the short-lived Tri-County Sports Club, whose mission was to raise money for youth sports in town. He spent time as the Hackettstown High School Football Booster Club President, where he spearheaded the initiative to install the brick football at Morrison Field, an initiative which may or may not have been approved by the Athletic Director at the time. That brick still stands today, and his grandson had the honor of helping clean it before the start of his 8 th grade season this year.

Nick leaves behind three children who could not be prouder to call him Dad – Chris (wife Beth), Joe (wife Jen), and Nicole (fiancé Anthony), and seven grandchildren – Makenzi, Beckett, Zane, Ryan, Austin, Paxton, and Hayden. He also leaves behind his fiancée Denise Janus, his sister Bonnie Noce (husband Pat), brother in-law Ron (wife Maggie), and nieces, nephews, cousins, and cherished extended family. He also bids farewell to 4,593,925 people "who can't drive," and a bunch of sad people reading this obituary (who, obviously, can drive).

A viewing and celebration of his life will be held Wednesday, November 12th, 2025, Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840, from 4 to 8pm. A private interment to follow.