Jose L. Catarroja died on January 14 at the age of 86.
Born and raised in the Philippines, Mr. Catarroja came to the United States in 1965 on a research grant at Columbia University. He lived in Jersey City, Manhattan, West Orange and, most recently, in Livingston.
Mr. Catarroja practiced dentistry in the Philippines and later worked as a medical technologist at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Orange Memorial Hospital, and Clara Maass Medical Center.
He was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in West Orange.
Pre-deceased by his nine siblings, Mr. Catarroja is survived by his wife of 54 years, Presentacion “Pressy” Catarroja; his children, Joseph Catarroja (Rhea) and Jennifer Solimene (Vito); and four grandsons.
Funeral services were private and held under the direction of Shook-Farmer Funeral Home, Roseland.