Obituary of Salvatore Joseph LaGreca

Salvatore Joseph LaGreca of Hopatcong, New Jersey passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones on April 9, 2024 at the age of 87. He was born on March 5, 1937 to Grace and Joseph LaGreca in Brooklyn, New York.

A few years after his birth, the LaGreca family moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey where Sal graduated from East Rutherford High School in 1956 as a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball and baseball. He served in the United States Coast Guard for two years before being honorably discharged in December 1958. In 1960, Sal was then drafted into the United States Army where he served in the Berlin Crisis. During his two years as an active-duty soldier, he played on the Army’s baseball team, as well as wrote for his base’s newspaper. Sal loved his country and was proud to be an American. He moved to Hopatcong in 1971 where he continued his position as a medical sales representative for Allied Healthcare until he retired in 2007.

To say Sal loved participating in outdoor activities would be an understatement. He greatly enjoyed spending time in the water and driving his boat on Lake Hopatcong and served as the Randall Beach Club President for more than two decades. His passion for hunting knew no bounds—even bagging his last deer at 86-years-old. When he wasn’t experiencing the thrill of the hunt, he could likely be found either walking in the woods and fields of Warren and Sussex Counties or taking long drives by himself or with his wife Cathy since he genuinely appreciated the wonder and beauty of nature.

Sports continued to be a treasured pastime throughout his life. Sal took enormous pleasure playing competitive softball in the New Jersey Senior Softball League of Morris County, playing on multiple teams in multiple age brackets—sometimes simultaneously—and was a spirited team player until the age of 82. When he wasn’t on the field, he relished being in the stands to cheer on his two daughters and two grandchildren as they competed in youth, high school, collegiate and semi-pro sports. In his later years, Sal cherished the countless hours he spent watching his beloved NY Giants and NY Yankees in the "dorm" with his two best buddies—his grandson Alex and son-in-law Gary.

Sal treated each person he met as a potential pal while also being devoted to numerous friends who shared his love for the same hobbies. He had a knack for engaging in interesting conversations with just about every individual who crossed his path—and it was impossible to walk away without having “Classic Sal Stories” to share.   

Sal was predeceased by his father Joseph LaGreca, loving mother Grace (Merlino) LaGreca and big brother Frank LaGreca. He is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years Catherine (Ferreri) LaGreca, his daughter Tina LaGreca, his daughter and son-in-law Karen (LaGreca) and Gary Borowiec, his two adored grandchildren Alex and Nicole Borowiec, along with several nephews, nieces, cousins—and countless friends.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass at 10:00am on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at St. Jude’s Church, 40 Maxim Drive, Hopatcong, NJ 07843. If you would like to send condolences, please visit www.leberlakeside.com. In lieu of flowers, the LaGreca family kindly suggests donations be made to the American Heart Association and the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.