Luke A. Sarsfield Jr.

January 15, 2011

Luke A. Sarsfield Jr., 85, of Totowa, N.J., passed away, in Wayne, Saturday, January 15, 2011. He was the beloved husband of the former Nancy Ann Chiavacci, of Totowa. Luke was the loving father of Luke A. Sarsfield III and his wife, Jodi, New York, N.Y.; dear grandfather of Luke A. Sarsfield IV and Victoria L. Sarsfield; and dear uncle of Robert Sarsfield, Harrisburg, Pa. Born in Luzerne, he lived there before moving to Totowa 40 years ago. He was superintendent of schools for the Rutherford Board of Education, Rutherford, N.J., for 27 years, before retiring in 2000. Luke was a parishioner of St. James R.C. Church, Totowa, and was a former usher there. He was the chairman of the board of the Bergen County Teen Arts. He was a member of the NJEA, the NEA, the NJSA and the BCSA. Luke was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran, serving in the Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Pacific Theater Ribbon, the American Theater Ribbon, the Victory Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal. Luke was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 553, Luzerne; the VFW of Kingston, and the Rotary Club of Rutherford. He was also an American history buff. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd., Totowa, at 9 a.m. Thursday. Funeral Mass will follow at St. James R.C. Church, Totowa, at 9:30 a.m. Entombment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Mausoleum, Totowa. Friends may call Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.festamemorial.com .