Nicholas Carmine Iannuccilli

“

Nick lived a life defined by devotion to his family, commitment to his students, pride in honest work, and a deep sense of principle.

Nicholas Carmine Iannuccilli, lovingly known as Nick, passed away on October 13, 2026, at the age of 78. Born on September 12, 1948, Nick lived a life defined by devotion to his family, commitment to his students, pride in honest work, and a deep sense of principle.

Nick was a graduate of Our Lady of Victory Elementary and Snyder High School in Jersey City, NJ, and went on to Jersey City State College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Education on June 6, 1971. That day marked the beginning of a life he would build with purpose and heart. Just one week later, on June 13, he married Alfreda, his high school sweetheart and the great love of his life. Their love story began when Alfreda was just 14, and over the next 55 years they built a remarkable life together. They graduated together, taught side by side in the Wanaque, New Jersey, school district, shared the drive to and from work for more than twenty years, raised two sons, and retired together. When Nick became ill, Alfreda cared for him with steadfast devotion and remained by his side nearly every day. Their deep and enduring bond was a rare and beautiful gift to all who knew them.

Over the course of a career spanning more than 31 years in education, Nick served as an elementary school teacher in Wanaque School, where he taught fifth, sixth, and seventh grade, specializing in math and science. Generations of students remember him as the kind of teacher who made those subjects come alive. He brought energy, discipline, and passion into the classroom, and his influence stayed with his students long after they left it. Among those students was Bobby Czyz, one of Nick’s favorites, who went on to become a world champion boxer and respected commentator. Nick’s legacy as a teacher lives on in the many young lives he helped shape.

During summers away from the classroom, Nick poured his talents into his small business, Iannuccilli Construction. He specialized in landscape design and construction, building decks, patios, screened-in porches, barns, and sheds. He was gifted with his hands and had the soul of an artist. He loved woodworking, leatherworking, metalworking, stained glass, and even creating kaleidoscopes. His eye for beauty and design could be seen in the homes and landscapes he created, especially the family home in Warwick, New York, which he built alongside his sons, Greg and David. Over the years, with his boys working beside him, he designed and landscaped four homes and planted thousands of trees and shrubs. One of his most impressive achievements was a stone wall in West Milford, New Jersey, stretching more than 700 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 4 feet high, surrounding his property with the same strength and care that marked the rest of his life.

“

Their love story began when Alfreda was just 14, and over the next 55 years they built a remarkable life together.

Nick was a man of strong convictions and deep feeling. He was a dedicated and passionate husband, father, son, and teacher—a loving and caring man who wore his emotions openly. A protector and provider, he believed in discipline, justice, and standing up for his principles. He loved to debate politics and never hesitated to raise his voice in defense of what he believed was right. Rooted in his Roman Catholic faith, he had been an altar boy and attended private school, experiences that helped shape the strong moral compass he carried throughout his life. Yet alongside that strength was a softer side: he loved dramatic films like Hidalgo, Seabiscuit, and Rocky, and he found joy in creating beauty with his hands and in the natural world around him.

Among Nick’s proudest accomplishments was his marriage to Alfreda, a source of joy and gratitude throughout his life. He also took immense pride in seeing both of his sons accepted to and graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He shared a lifelong love of football and baseball with his elder son, Greg Iannuccilli. Greg graduated from West Point in May 1997, and went on to serve his country as an Army Aviator. He now lives in Austin, Texas, and is the proud father of two daughters, Kiana Sophia Iannuccilli of Montana and Brooklynn Rose Iannuccilli of Austin.

Nick’s younger son, David Xavier Iannuccilli, inherited his father’s natural speed and athletic talent. Just as Nick had starred at running back for Snyder High School in Jersey City, David became a standout running back at Warwick Valley High School. He later earned a place as a walk-on on the Division I Army football team at West Point, an accomplishment that made his father enormously proud. David graduated from the Academy in May 2000 and went on to serve as an Army Officer and Ranger. He and his wife, Judy, live in Washington State with their two sons, Nicky D. Iannuccilli, named in honor of his grandfather, and Chase Iannuccilli.

In addition to his beloved wife, Alfreda, and his sons Greg and David, Nick is survived by his sister, Ernestine “Tina” Giemzo; by his granddaughters, Kiana Sophia Iannuccilli and Brooklynn Rose Iannuccilli; and by his grandsons, Nicky D. Iannuccilli and Chase Iannuccilli. He was preceded in death by his mother, Matilda Iannuccilli, and his father, Nicola Iannuccilli.

“

He leaves behind a legacy of strength, devotion, craftsmanship, and heart that will continue to endure in all who knew him.

Nick will be remembered as a man who built things that lasted—homes, gardens, lessons, values, and a family bound by love and pride. His life’s work can be seen not only in the structures he raised and the landscapes he shaped, but in the character of the people he loved and guided. He leaves behind a legacy of strength, devotion, craftsmanship, and heart that will continue to endure in all who knew him.