Alexander Trento passed away peacefully on June 14, 2012, at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, N.J., surrounded by his family, after a brief illness. He recently celebrated his 70th birthday. Alex was the son of the late Salvatore and Rachel (Losito) Trento. Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Roseland, N.J. Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, N.J. Relatives and friends are invited to gather on Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Farmer Funeral Home, 45 Roseland Ave., Roseland, N.J. 07068. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.farmerfuneral.com
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Sad news here in the Caldwells. Alex Trento, former candidate for West Caldwell Mayor and well known Democrat, passed away today.
Alex Trento was a local man with a world-wide smile, and a hearty hug for all.
I met him a few years ago, when he was campaigning, and discovered his great wit and warmth over the course of our meetings and interviews.
As down-to-earth as Alex was, his accomplishments were stellar.
He was inducted into the Essex County Democratic “HALL OF FAME” in 2010.
He was elected as West Caldwell Democratic Chairperson in 2002.
Alex was also a loving father and husband.
While teaching at Madison Avenue School, Newark, Alex met his wife to be Marie, also an elementary teacher. Alex and Marie were married 44 years. They moved to West Caldwell in 1978.They have two children, Gina Marie owner of The Better Half women’s clothing store in Florham Park and a son, Alexander II, who works for ADP in Roseland and is married to Patrizia, and have two children, Sabrina Alessandra, 2 1/2 and Nicholas Rocco, 10 months old.
Alex’s Democratic political involvement began in 1967 when he worked for the Democratic Assembly candidates. In 1968, at the age of 25, Alex was elected as Irvington South Ward Councilman, served two terms and two years as Council President. For the next 30+ years he has served as coordinator or campaign manager for many Democratic candidates on the local, County and State levels. Alex was also a County Committee member for over 30 years. In 1979 he was Democratic State Assembly candidate and in 1982 and 2003 Alex was a Democratic Council candidate in West Caldwell. In 2002, he was elected West Caldwell Democratic chairperson.
Alex was born in Newark and at an early age his parents moved to Irvington. He graduated Irvington High School and then attended and graduated from Montclair State College where he majored as a social studies teacher. While at Montclair, Alex played football and was a member of their first undefeated football team. Alex obtained a master’s Degree in Special Education from Newark State College and also was a Doctorial candidate at Rutgers University.
Upon graduating from Montclair State, Alex obtained a teaching position in Madison Avenue School in Newark He later taught special education students at JFK School in Newark. Alex left the Newark public school system to become the first Special Education Coordinator in the Essex County Vocational Technical Schools. Alex served as principal at the Vo-Tech’s West Caldwell Campus, Newark Tech and Bloomfield Tech. After 17 years he left to obtain administrative positions at Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne and also for the Trenton Board of Education. Alex retired from public education in 1994.
As the hour is late, details about his funeral will be updated shortly.
It will be at Farmer Funeral Home in Roseland, on Monday.
visitation will be Monday from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. and Tuesday from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. The funeral will be Wednesday at Blessed Sacrament on Livingston Avenue in Roseland at 9:30 p.m.
In leu of flowers donations should be sent to the West Essex First Aid Squad.
My condolences go out to Alex Trento's family and friends. His smile and warmth will be missed.
