Rev. John J. Negrotto Episcopal clergyman and former rector of Holy Trinity Church in Hillsdale, police and disaster chaplain, first aider in various municipalities, 71 Rev. John J. Negrotto, 71, passed away suddenly on Dec. 13, 2014. Family will receive visitors at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 271 Roseland Ave., Essex Fells, N.J., on Friday, Dec. 19, from 4 to 8 p.m.Mass of the Resurrection will be offered at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at St. Peter's.Committal will be private at the request of the family. Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd., Totowa, N.J. 07512, festamemorial.com,is in charge of arrangements. Born in Paterson, N.J., Rev. Negrotto was the son of the late John A. and Josephine DiLoreto Negrotto. He graduated from DePaul High School (1961), Seton Hall University (1965), and Darlington Seminary, Mahwah, N.J. He was ordained a priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson in 1969 and served at St. Christopher's R.C. Church, Parsippany, N.J. He transitioned into the Episcopal Church, receiving an M.Div. from General Theological Seminary in 1972 and married Susan Giagiari that same year. John was assistant rector of St. Michael's Church, Wayne, N.J., when he left in 1976 to become rector of Holy Trinity Church in Hillsdale, N.J., for 27 years. In 2004, John entered interim ministry and served in St. Peter's (Essex Fells), Messiah (Chester, N.J.), St. Paul's (Jersey City, N.J.), St. Thomas (Red Bank, N.J.), and Holy Trinity (South River, N.J.). He served on many Diocese of Newark committees, including department of missions and human resources. Besides his pastoral work, Father John was involved in many community activities. He was a member of the Hillsdale Board of Education and was coordinator for scouting troops at Holy Trinity Church. John served in emergency services as a volunteer certified chaplain, firefighter and first aider in the New Jersey towns of Hillsdale, North Haledon, Bamber Lakes and Lanoka Harbor. Currently, John was serving as certified chaplain, firefighter, first aider and boat pilot in Lanoka Harbor Fire Company, LHEMS and Lacey Dive Team and was senior credentialed police chaplain of Lacey Police. John was a certified chaplain instructor/trainer ICPC (Int'l Conference of Police Chaplains) and a certified disaster chaplain/crisis counselor for Ocean County DRCC (emergency response ream), Mental Health Association of New Jersey, and Alpha Team. John was the priest associate at his home parish, St. Stephen's, Waretown, N.J., and the priest associate at Community of St. John Baptist in Mendham, N.J., where he was an oblate. John is survived by his beloved wife, Susan, of 42 years; daughter, Kristen and husband, Richard Weber, of Middlesex, N.J.; son, John and wife, Lisa, of Waldwick, N.J., and grandson, Dylan Negrotto. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Community of St. John Baptist, 80 W. Main St., Mendham, N.J. 07945 would be appreciated.
Published in Star-Ledger on Dec. 18, 2014