December 28, 2016 • www.theobserver.com • Vol CXXIX, No. 29 Visit our
BUSINESS DIRECT RY on
COVERING: BELLEVILLE • BLOOMFIELD
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• EAST NEWARK • HARRISON • KEARNY • LYNDHURST • NORTH ARLINGTON • NUTLEY
Mary A. Tortoreti Owner of The Observer 1942-2016 Mary A. Tortoreti, who for the last four decades was the matriarch of The Observer and who for the last 14 years served as the newspaper’s president, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City following a brief yet valiant fight against cancer. She was 74. Mrs. Tortoreti was born in 1942 in the Bronx, and spent the first few years of her life there. No matter where she went after the Bronx, she always considered herself a Bronx girl and was very proud to tell that to anyone who ever asked where she was born. When she was 11, her family moved from the Bronx to Washington Township in Bergen County. She would go on to graduate from Westwood High School. Following high school, Mrs. Tortoreti worked at an insurance company, but shortly after starting her job, she got married at 19 and had two children – Lisa Feorenzo, the former publisher of The Observer and Tina Feorenzo. While she raised her children, she was a stay-at-home mom – and she
absolutely loved that part of her life. In the 1970s, as her children grew older, she took a job at a Grand Union in Washington Township and was a meat wrapper. Though she only held the job for a few years, she loved every second of it. In 1972, the true love of her life and her second husband, Anthony Tortoreti, bought The Observer newspaper – and you could often find her somewhere in The Observer office. During that time, she began a basketmaking business – and from a few customers, it eventually grew so big that she was shipping orders to different parts of New Jersey. And those items she made were all high-end. In the early years of the Tortoretis owning The Observer, Mary penned a weekly column that appeared in the newspaper called “The Kitchen Witch.” Indeed, the column’s name was clever – but it was in no way indicative of the kind of person she was. In fact, each week, she shared recipes with readers because she had a passion for the culinary arts … something that stuck with her until see TORTORETI page
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Many prayers have been said- your suffering- not
THE CURTAIN WAS DRAWN
Baking or cooking- we all were well fed
Our minds will recall and time will not sever
Sharing and caring so much left unsaid
Their voices singing loudly- “Sagandaga forever”
Whether baiting a hook or enjoying a book
Many dreams you had that never came true
Your home made you happy- you just had to look
God always knew- what was best for you
Music you loved- whether Bocelli or Doo Wop
You wished to be loved- He always was there
Memories of Merengue or even a Sock-Hop
He helped carry your cross- when it was too much
We let go of sad memories as we cherish the sweet
No glowing lights- the tree is bare This Blessed Season- you always would share So much left undone- but you never gave in Whatever your challenge you strived hard to win
in vain
As we bid you adieu- The Lord you will meet The curtain was drawn- for one final time
to bare
Painting and creating were your special gifts Your Westies beside you- your spirits they would
The children remember all the fun times
lift
Riding in the car- the lake and tall pines
Your daughters loved you and shared all your pain
As we say our goodbyes- to a life so sublime
YOUR BABY SISTER, GINNY