Joseph “Joe” Paul Borrelli, 73, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2024, with his loved ones by his side. Joe was cherished by his friends and family, and the void he leaves behind will be impossible to fill. There is only one way to describe him and that is, simply: Joe Borrelli was a lovely human being.

Joe was born on January 6, 1951 to Neal and Josephine (nee LaPorta) Borrelli and grew up in Waldwick, New Jersey with his siblings Eric and Claire, along with many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends nearby. Having a large family in a small town made for festive and memorable Christmas seasons during Joe’s childhood. Joe carried his love for the season into later years, during which he would set up two Christmas trees and begin playing nonstop Christmas music the week after Halloween. To quote one of his favorite Christmas movies, It’s A Wonderful Life, “Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?”

Joe was a star athlete at Waldwick High, lettering in the trifecta of sports: baseball, basketball and football. His athletic accomplishments were often acknowledged in the local paper. With his good-natured irreverence, he would years later put one of his own “autographed” high school home run balls in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, slipping it behind a cabinet with memorabilia from his baseball idols, Willie Mays and Joe DiMaggio, using his children as accomplices. Rumor has it, it’s still there to this day.

His athletic and academic prowess led him to Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There he played Safety on the undefeated 1972 Championship Diplomats football team, winning the Lambert Cup. At F&M, he met his lifelong brothers on the ‘Dips and in the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, which he always boasted was the real Animal House.

While at F&M, Joe met and fell in love with a nursing student, Vicki Plowman. Vicki played hard to get at first but quickly fell for Joe’s warmth, wit and sense of humor. And soon, they were alongside each other together in heart and soul for the next 50 years.

Joe and Vicki married in York, PA on July 26, 1975. They lived in towns throughout New Jersey and Connecticut, finally settling and raising their two children, Nichole “Nikki” and Daniel “Dan” in Kinnelon, New Jersey. As a family, the four Borrellis enjoyed spending time with each other, whether it be a trip to the Jersey Shore or a rustic Pennsylvania mountain getaway. And as more people were added to their family unit, the love and cherished times also grew.

Joe was a wonderful husband and an unbelievable Dad. He always made time for Nikki and Dan, whether it be coaching one of their baseball teams or helping with school projects, but it was so much more than that, ways that cannot be expressed in words. He led by example, teaching his children to live with integrity, honesty, kindness and a sense of humor. He was their hero.

Joe worked at Pfizer and its various predecessors moving up the ranks to become a Division Controller for over forty years. At his retirement party in 2011, it was clear that his colleagues respected and admired him. They regaled his family with stories about how they were all intimidated by him at first but, once they came to know him, found Joe Borrelli to be a fair and gentle giant.

Joe would never turn down a chance to see the Rangers, Jets or Yankees live… unless it was to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Joe and Vicki saw more Bruce shows than you can count. If you took a drive in Joe’s car, you would find yourself serenaded either by a Springsteen bootleg or an angry WFAN caller.

Joe and Vicki loved working together to beautify the homes they shared throughout the years. With Vicki’s design know-how and Joe’s master woodworking ability (albeit at the risk of a finger here and there), they were a true team.

If you stopped by their home, you would most likely find Joe in his garage building a piece worthy of The New Yankee Workshop. Joe’s garage was not only filled floor to ceiling with every tool you could imagine, it was also a place where he displayed mementos: Jets tickets, his grandson’s artwork, various bobbleheads and a gumball machine he stole from Hildy’s Tavern 50 years ago.

Joe and Vicki’s home was a place of comfort, a place you just wanted to be. In fact, any place where Joe was became the place you wanted to be. He had this way about him that seemed to fill the room. Joe could make anyone laugh at themselves, at him, at anything – it didn’t matter to him, as long as everyone felt included and at ease. He had a big heart that way, and all who met him felt it.

He was a true aficionado of pop culture and was just as happy to discuss the Yankees as he was the Gilmore Girls. Joe also loved doing sudoku on the beach and relaxing on the front porch in his rocking chair, waiting for a certain neighborhood dog to come by for a treat and a few scratches.

Joe is survived by his wife, Vicki Borrelli, his two children, Nikki Borrelli (husband David Enteman) and Dan Borrelli (partner Allie Binaco), and his grandchild, Charles “Charlie” Finley Borrelli Enteman, whom Joe adored. Charlie affectionately called Joe, Pop-Pop, and they had a shared love of astronomy and the same maturity level when it came to silly jokes.

Joe is also survived by his brother, Eric Borrelli, and sister, Claire Borrelli (wife Kimberly), mother-in-law, Marjorie Plowman, brother-in-law, Keith Plowman (wife Debbie), first cousins, Joseph Borrelli (wife Terry), Neal Borrelli, Connie O’Brien (husband Robert), Edgar Devine (wife Sandra), Claire Devine, John Devine (wife Mary), Renee Mondello, Rita Koch, Paula Jaegge (husband Frank), Eric LaPorta, nephew, Matthew Plowman (wife Abby), niece, Marissa Plowman (fiancé Raph), and godson, Joseph Borrelli (wife Jenn and son Grant).

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the American Lung Association or Habitat for Humanity in Joe's name.

A celebration of life party for Joe will be held this fall and we will notify all friends and family. For more information, please contact the family at jpborrell1994@gmail.com.

Joe enjoyed life. Whether he was on the lake by an outdoor fire, sitting on the beach, or sharing stories with friends on the front porch, he appreciated every moment. We ask that you do the same - go out and do something that brings you real joy and share it with the ones you love. Be like Joe.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/joseph-borrelli/obituary/

Copy