Joseph P. Petillo, 95, of Livingston and, recently, Carrollton, Georgia, died on May 29. Funeral arrangements were by Galante Funeral Home in Caldwell. Born in Roconola, Italy, Mr. Petillo lived in Newark before residing in Livingston for 55 years. He served in the Navy as a Seabee in Europe and the Philippines during World War II. Mr. Petillo opened Brookdale Fashions, a menswear shop in Vailsburg that relocated to South Orange as Brookdale Ltd. He also worked at the Dugout in Union and as a bookkeeper for his daughter, Dr. Tina Petillo. He was a member of the Columbian Foundation and the Joseph P. Lordi Scholarship Committee. He served as president of the Vailsburg Lions Club in 1970. In 1947, Mr. Petillo won the Ted Mack Amateur Hour five times, and went on tour with the show. Mr. Petillo was predeceased by his wife, Cornelia "Corny" (nee Strumolo); his brother, Peter Petillo, and his sister, Elsie Petillo. He is survived by his daughters, Dr. Tina M. Petillo and Ursula (Ed); four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
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