Dennis DeSalvo

1949 - 2025

Dennis DeSalvo

April 19, 1949 - November 1, 2025

Dennis Edwards DeSalvo passed away peacefully on November 1st, 2025 due to cardiac respiratory failure after an extensive battle against heart disease. Up until the end Dennis maintained the same strength, courage, and fortitude he has displayed throughout his entire life.

Dennis was born on April 19, 1949 in Hoboken, NJ to his loving parents John A DeSalvo and Madeline Edwards DeSalvo, and has an older sister Cherie McClintock along with a half-sister Jean Franklin. He graduated from Hoboken High School in 1966 where he starred as a linebacker on the football team. Always known to be one of the hardest working men you could ever meet, its no surprise that he started working various jobs as early as 10 years of age, most of that at Maxwell House Coffee Company in Hoboken, NJ.

After graduating High School Dennis wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a World War II Veteran and Sergeant in the U.S. Army, Dennis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to serve his country during the Vietnam era as a Rifleman, where he earned an Honorable Discharge. It is during this time that he met and fell in love with his wife of 56 years Carmela. They married in 1969 and moved to Mount Holly, NJ to start their lifelong journey together. They had two children whom he loved and adored, John Andrew DeSalvo, whom he named after his father, and Jennifer McIver, (nee) DeSalvo.

Dennis worked for the Longbranch, Lakewood, and Mount Holly Police Departments in NJ as a Patrolman in the early 1970's. Unfortunately, he holds the distinction of being shot in the leg during a riot on his first day on the job as a Patrolman in Longbranch, NJ. In 1972 Dennis became a Correctional Police Officer for the NJ Department of Corrections, and worked at "The Wall" ,also known as Trenton State Prison, one of the toughest, and most brutal prisons in America throughout the 1970's. In 1982 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and helped open up Southern State Correctional Facility in Delmont, NJ where he served as a Housing Sergeant and Assistant Center Keeper. Dennis was jokingly known as "Lieutenant Columbo" to his co-workers and inmates housed there. He was heavily involved in the union and became the institutional rep for his fellow Officers. Dennis was then promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and transferred to Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for women in Clinton, NJ where he worked as the Centerkeeper and Union Rep for his fellow Lieutenants. In order to be closer to home and near his family, Dennis then transferred to Riverfront State Prison in Camden, NJ where he would finish his career after 28 courageous, distinguished years with the department. He received numerous commendations for his heroism throughout his career in Law Enforcement. In one of his proudest moments in life he had the honor of being called up to the podium while receiving a standing ovation , and being called a departmental hero before awarding and pinning the departmental badge onto his son John's uniform chest during his graduation from the academy, where he also would go on to become a Police Lieutenant. Another one of his proudest moments as a father was watching his daughter Jennifer graduate from Stockton University with her degree in Finance, and go on to become the Chief Financial Officer for both the Egg Harbor Twp, and Sea Isle City Municipalities in NJ.

Dennis loved spending time with his family at home enjoying his wife Carmela's fine Italian cooking and was an avid NY Mets and Giants fan. He traveled the world with his wife making new friends everywhere they went, and really enjoyed playing craps at the casinos in Atlantic City. He was a people person and loved talking to everyone just as much as they loved talking to him. He loved to go bowling and was on a local bowling team with his wife Carmela, and Dennis enjoyed to go fishing with his son and friends. He was one of as kind, a great father and role model to not only his children and grandchildren, but people all over everywhere he went. He loved his country, and proudly displayed this, by putting his own life on the line serving it. He loved animals and most of all his dog Cody. He was the epitome of what the words being a man, a father, and loving husband stood for. He and his wife Carmela loyally stood by each others' side for over 56 years that they were married. That in itself says everything you need to know about this man, and he truly will be missed by all that were blessed to know him.

Dennis served as Commander of both the American Legion, and VFW where he donated his time to helping others. He was also a member of both the ELKS and MOOSE lodges, the Italian American Club, and the Knight of Columbus where he served the Lord Jesus Christ. He also worked for the NJ Department of Motor Vehicles, The Garden State Parkway, and various other

security details after he retired from Law Enforcement. Dennis also set up and held a fundraiser to raise money for the Cape May County Sheriffs Department K-9 Unit. Due to his hard work he was able to gather enough contributions to purchase Vests for the K-9 Police dogs to wear. He was awarded a commendation and letter of appreciation from the department and the citizens of the community for his hard work.

Dennis Is survived by his wife of 56 years Carmela DeSalvo, his son John DeSalvo and his grandchildren Dominic and Arabella DeSalvo, Jennifer McIver and husband Jared McIver and his grandson Asher McIver, brother in law Robert Berardo, his sister Cherie McClintock and husband Scott McClintock, niece Josette Stankiewicz, sister Jean Franklin and her husband Bob Franklin, cousins Ronnie March and Beverly March. He is predeceased by his nephew James Stankiewicz

Arrangements have been entrusted to The Godfrey Funeral Home. All who wish to honor this great man may do so this Friday, November 7, 2025 at 9 a.m.

Services are as follows: 9 to 10 a.m., Viewing Friday November 7, 2025 at Church of the Resurrection /Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish

200 Tuckahoe Road, Marmora, NJ 08223

10 to 11 a.m., Mass at same location

12 p.m., Interment Burial At seaside Cemetery 559 US Highway 9 , Marmora, NJ 08223

The Godfrey Funeral Home of Palermo

644 S. Shore Road Palermo NJ 08223