Obituary of Peter Viscomi

PETER VISCOMI

Devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother and uncle, -- Pietro “Peter” Viscomi, died on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at the age of 92. Born in the seaside hills of Montepaone, Calabria, Italy, Peter would search out a better life for himself, his parents and four brothers. As a teenager he embarked on a month-long ocean voyage to Argentina and without knowing the language enrolled in engineering school. Over the course of 12 years he brought his family to Argentina, built homes and set up a wine and soda delivery business for his father. The love of his life, Caterina, who grew up in the same town, across a piazza that separated their homes, finally agreed to marry him after 5 years of asking and she joined him in Argentina. They had a 61 year loving marriage that only ended with Caterina’s death 6 years ago this month. They had four children while in Argentina; Caterina, Victor, Ana and Josephine.

Peter decided better opportunities awaited his family in the United States and that would be the next destination that he would bring his entire family to in the 1960s. His maternal uncle sponsored his immigration to the United States and his brother Joseph would join him shortly thereafter. The two would eventually start a successful business partnership building homes in northern New Jersey for many decades. The quality of their work was renown and if imitation is truly the sincerest form of flattery, the Chinese-style pagoda home Peter and Joseph re-designed and built was replicated by a builder a few blocks away from the original.   

But above his craft which he took great pride in, Peter was all about his family. He and Caterina sponsored many extended family get-togethers over the years that brought family from Italy and Brazil as well as their good friends and neighbors. Indeed, if you were a good friend or neighbor, you were family. Peter designed his last home as a true party locale with multiple patios and terraces overlooking Sandy Hook Bay, the Manhattan skyline and the Atlantic Ocean. 

By example, he and Caterina instilled in their children a true work ethic and devotion to family. They relished the time baby-sitting their grandchildren: Derek, Gabrielle and Sabrina and later watching them succeed at baseball, basketball, soccer and gymnastics from the sidelines. Recently, Peter was so happy to become a great grandfather to Zoey Jean.  

Peter loved his brothers Joseph, Frank, Luciano and Ben. They enjoyed many brothers’ reunions over the years and the highlight was his youngest by 20 years brother, Ben, cooking for them. He loved his nieces and nephews, great-niece and great-nephews as if they were his children. 

Peter was predeceased by his wife Caterina, daughter Caterina, parents Vito and Caterina, sister Stella and sister-in-law Giovina. Surviving him are his daughters Ana and Josephine, son Victor and daughter-in-law Carol, grandchildren Derek, Gabrielle (Louis) and Sabrina, great-grandchild Zoey Jean; brothers Joseph (Franca); Frank; Luciano (Ana) and Ben (Cathy) as well as his numerous nephews and nieces, great niece and great nephews and cousins in the United States and Italy, Brazil and Argentina.

Peter was devoted to his faith and up until the recent pandemic, was a parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help/St. Agnes Church in Highlands. He was a Grand Knight of the Rev. Joseph Donnelly Council of the Knights of Columbus.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the charity of your choice or consider a contribution to the Saint Vincent DePaul Society at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Highlands. This charity helps local families in distress.    

Arrangements are through the Posten-McGinley Funeral Home located at 59 E. Lincoln Avenue, Atlantic Highlands. The wake will be held there on Monday, February 20, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 141 Navesink Ave., Highlands on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Red Bank.