Vincent John Laraia

Vincent J. Laraia, 79, of Howell Twp. passed away surrounded by his family on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Twp. Vincent was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and had lived in the Colonia section of Woodbridge Twp. and Edison before moving to The Villages, in 1999. He was a 1958 graduate of Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. Vincent served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a licensed Professional Engineer and worked as a chemical engineer for Merck & Co. in Rahway and Whitehouse Station for 35 years, retiring in 1993. He was a member of The Villages Association Board of Trustees, where he served on the Architectural Committee and represented The Villages at township meetings. Vincent was a parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Farmingdale, a former parishioner of The Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, and a former member of the Springwood Swim Club, Colonia. Vincent remained vigorous and active throughout his entire life and swam almost every day.

Vincent is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Helen Lucey Laraia; three sons, John Laraia and his wife, Lois of Avenel, Vincent Laraia, Jr. and his wife, Andrea of Taipei, Taiwan, and Andrew Laraia and his wife, Susan of Lakeville, MA; a daughter, Mary Ellen Davis and her husband, Carl of Edison; eight grandchildren, Peter Vincent Laraia, Michael Laraia, Thomas Laraia, Steven Laraia, Catherine Laraia, Julia Davis, Carl Davis III, Katie Scarlett Davis; and two sisters, Marie Ghio of New Fairfield, CT and Madeline Laraia of Zionville, NC.