John Nicholas Tarantino
Professional trumpeter and West Orange educator who influenced generations of students to love music, of Stirling, 88
John Nicholas Tarantino, 88, died Feb. 26, 2020 at his home in Stirling, N.J. He was born on March 1, 1931 in Paterson, N.J., to Nicholas and Elvira (Nazzaro) Tarantino. John attended Passaic Valley HS, The Juilliard School, enlisted in the US Army and was accepted to the West Point Military Band, followed by Bachelor's and Master's degrees and doctoral studies at Montclair State University. He married Halina Mroz on April 18, 1959.
He was a music educator with the West Orange public schools for 35 years, a professional freelance trumpet player, and served as president of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 16.
Surviving in addition to his loving wife of 60 years, are sister Dolores (Tarantino) Scerbo and her husband Ezio; son Christopher Tarantino and daughter-in-law Mindy (Scheierman); son Eric Tarantino; daughter Alyssa (Tarantino) Dominique and son-in-law Robert; three granddaughters, Ines, Gianna and Maeve, grandson Marc, nieces, nephews, and countless students whose lives he touched through music.
A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. on March 7 at St. Joseph's Shrine in Stirling. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Valley Memorial in Gillette.