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VAGGE Raymond S. Vagge Director of operations, of Fairfield, 56 Raymond S. Vagge, 56, of Fairfield died on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007, at Hackensack University Medical Center. Funeral Mass will be on Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas More R.C. Church, Fairfield. Interment is in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Visiting is Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home, 7 Two Bridges Rd., Fairfield. Born in New York City, Mr. Vagge lived in Pine Brook before moving to Fairfield 20 years ago. He was the director of operations at the Frank McBride Co. in Edison, formerly of Hawthorne, where he was employed for 28 years. He received a B.S. in engineering in 1972 and an M.S. in engineering in 1977, both from Manhattan College. An outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, boating and gardening. He coached basketball, softball and baseball in Fairfield and was an avid N.Y. Giants fan. He is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, Elizabeth (nee Degnan); devoted parents, Santa (Cipriano) and Raymond F. Vagge; cherished children, Michele and Raymond J.; loving sisters and brother, Catherine Calderwood, Rose Tomitz and Richard Vagge. Those who wish may make donations in Raymonds name to Tomorrows Childrens Fund, Don Imus-WFAN Pediatric Center. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Published in the Star-Ledger on 8/10/2007.

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August 30, 2007

    Ray, every night at the same hour, 11:30, i sit outside and smoke my pipe and talk to you. it's always the same, i miss you and you left all of us much too soon. as i type this, i have to stop and wipe the tears. no more Giant games together Aas we did for 30 consectutive years. each Monday as i promised at (cannot think of it) your coffin, mommy and i visit Gate of Heaven cemetary. so long for now Daddy       

Raymond Vagge, Sr. (montville, NJ)

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August 29, 2007

    I never imagined that at 24 years old, I would be signing an online guestbook in response to my father's eulogy. Then again, I cant really imagine myself at any age feeling comfortable or "ok" with his passing. For those of you who heard the eulogy I wrote for him, I'm going to "borrow" some lines from it to include here.

My heart is still very much broken these days and I wish my father were here because he promised that any guy who broke my heart would be shown his shotgun collection. (There's that sense of humor of his). I guess he never imagined, just as I never did, that he would be the one to break my heart most, though it was far beyond his control. Although weeks have passed since we said "goodbye" at his final resting place, time has not made it easier. If anything, it's been harder as the reality of his passing begins to settle in. The empty seat at our dinner table will remain empty as will the empty spot on the couch he often occupied at night. The silence is greater, there are even fewer laughs and a flood of tears each day.

For those of you who had the privaledge of knowing my father, you can surely imagine the extensive loss that my family is experiencing. He wasn't just a "father" to my brother and I. He was our provider, our coach, our personal chef. He was a teacher, a protector, a decorator, an architect. Most of all, he was a family man. Thanks to him(prior to this year), there has not been a year gone by that we did not go on a week-long family vacaition in addition to several weekend trips and car rides. I know that if he were to be able to come back, even for a day, he would have us packing our bags and we would glady comply. He loved spending time with us, his family, and he proved that again and again.

One of his most well known roles was as a comedian. No one could ever make me laugh as my father  could, even if it were just by making faces or doing impersonations. (Or removing his fake tooth when he had it) Who else but my father would walk out the house with a surgical mask on and doctor's gloves in preperation to change his first diaper. Or park in a reserved parking spot and assure me that it was fine because it was reserved for Him. As I look ahead into the future I wonder if anything could ever be the same, or even come close. Who is going to carve our Jacko-Lantern at Halloween? Who is going to decorate our house like the Griswalds (Christmas Vacation) and initiate the family tree lighting? Who is going to threaten the guys that break my heart? Who will be able to give us the answers to the many questions he always knew? Unfortuantely, my dad had shoes that no one else could possibly fill. I only hope that he now knows just how important he was to so many people and how incredibly missed he will continue to be.

Dad, I hopw that youre reading this from somewhere out there and that you heard the Eulogy I wrote for you. I want to remind you that I got the full-time job you had wanted for me since I graduated in May 2006. I even cleaned my room competely, if you can imagine this. I hope that you are able to see it. Above all, I hope that you are proud of me and I promise to do my best to continue to make you proud from afar.

As for me...

I am proud to say that you have and always will be my father, no matter where you are and no matter where I am, I will always be your "little girl." I love you dad and will never love another guy as much as I love you, my dad.

Michele Vagge (Fairfield)

August 29, 2007

    Its been three weeks since my husband passed away, but he is with me every day...In the backyard by his pond, I can still see him there. When I go to sleep at night, I miss him next to me. I wake up in the middle of the night with my bed half empty. Im still waiting for him to walk through the front door although I know that can't happen. Still, I know he is here with me and our family because he is always and will forever be in our thoughts and in our hearts. Ray, I love and miss you very much.

Liz Vagge (Fairfield, NJ)

August 21, 2007

    May you always be in God's footsteps.

August 10, 2007

    We have had the opportunity to work with Ray on several projects while working for The Frank A. McBride Company and Independent Sheet Metal. Maureen was his office administrator in the field on Ciba Geigy in Suffern, NY. He will be missed as will his unique sense of humor. Our condolences and thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time also in the future. May God take good care of him!

Maureen & Don Serafin (Washingtonville)

August 10, 2007

    I first met Ray 30 years ago when he was working for an enginering firm for the Two Bridges Sewer Authority Project. Shortly afterward he joined us at the Frank A. McBride Co. where he became a very valuable asset to the Company. He was admired and respected amongst his peers and constituents. I'm honored to say that he was a friend. He will be greatly missed.

Raymond Obert (Pompton Lakes, NJ)

August 10, 2007

    The Manhattan College alumni community shares your grief, and is now praying for our fellow alumni and the family at this time. The Alumni Office has been informed. As well as the Jasper Jottings community that I personally can reach. We are all a little poorer now. "No man is an island, entire of itself … any man’s death diminishes me". We are sorry for your loss.       

FJohn Reinke (MC1968) (kendall park, NJ)

August 10, 2007

    I had the good pleasure of working with Ray for many years. As an avid football fan of an opposing team, we shared many a good laugh. Those of you that knew him know of what I speak. I'll miss him and it!

   My sincere condolences to the family. 

Wayne Wichart (Saddle Brook, NJ)