Mr. James J. Caulfield, Sr., died on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at his home in Verona. A funeral mass will be offered in Our Lady of the Lake Church, Verona on Monday, January 9 at 10 a.m. Visiting in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona, on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m.
Born in Prescott, England, Mr. Caulfield came to the U.S. when he was seven and has lived in Verona since 1950. He graduated from Barringer High School and was a student at Rutgers until the beginning of World War II. He served as the 1st Radarman aboard the USS Indiana from 1942 to 1945. While in the Navy, he got a single off Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller in an inter-ship baseball game.
Mr. Caulfield graduated Panzer College with a degree in health and education and received his nasters from New York University. Mr. Caulfield spent his career with the East Orange Board of Education, teaching math and phys ed at the Columbia Elementary School, Ashland Elementary School and Franklin Elementary School. From 1968 to 1978 he was vice principal of Clifford J. Scott High School, before returning to Franklin Elementary as vice principal. Upon retiring in 1984, he felt that his greatest compliments came from former students who would approach him and tell him how positive an influence that he had been in their lives.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Caulfield worked at both Lockjoint & Anderson Trucking, the Lupus Foundation and Verona Aluminum.
He was an usher at Our Lady of the Lake Church, was inducted into the Montclair State Hall of Fame in 1980, and into the Essex County Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1989.
Mr. Caulfield was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Roberta (nee Sullivan) Caulfield and his son, James J. Caulfield, Jr.
He is the father of Dennis J. Caulfield and his wife Mary Jo, Linda M. Olszewski and William B. Caulfield and his companion, Leslie Battista. He is also survived by his nephews, John Halpin and his wife Carmen and Christopher Halpin and his wife Cathy and his grandchildren; Kristina Olszewski; Katie and Amelia Caulfield; Ryan and Connor Caulfield.
His love of God, family, country and Notre Dame defined his wonderful life. In lieu of flowers, donations to Verona Rescue Squad or the Lupus Foundation would be appreciated.
