Pasquale "Pat" Spagnoletti

Pasquale Carmine Spagnoletti - known to everyone as "Pat" and to football players across four decades as "Spag" - passed away on November 10, 2025, in Colonia, New Jersey, with a cup of coffee probably within arm's reach.

Born in Newark, New Jersey on September 10, 1935, to Millie and Joseph Spagnoletti, Pat grew up alongside his brothers Joe and Nick. After graduating from Central High School, he headed to Kansas State University on a football scholarship, becoming one of the few Italian Americans in Kansas in the 1950s—a fact that likely made him very easy to find in a crowd.

In 1960, Pat married the love of his life, Marie Jean Rizzie, whom he called "Jean." They settled in Colonia in 1967, and in true testament to either his stubbornness or his excellent choice in both wife and real estate, never left. Over 65 years of marriage, they rarely spent a night apart, finding joy in the simple pleasures: cooking, tending their garden, finding furniture to refinish, building doll houses, sharing morning coffee (his was perpetually refilled), binge-watching British murder mysteries, and escaping to their Vermont cabin.

Pat earned his beloved nickname "Coffee" from several of his grandchildren, who quickly learned that Grandpa drank the stuff morning, noon, and night -which explained a lot about his energy level.

Pat devoted his life to education, spending most of his career at Roselle Park High School where he taught math, fine arts, and printing, and served as Department Head of Industrial Arts, and Vice Principal before retiring in 1997. But his true legacy lived on the football field where, as assistant and co-head coach for more than 40 years, he shaped thousands of young athletes. Known for being both loved and a little feared by his players, Coach Spag led Roselle Park—a small school that had no business winning—to a State Football Championship in 1993. It was the kind of upset that still gets talked about.

When he wasn't teaching or coaching, Pat could be found tinkering with old cars in his garage, managing the Westfield Memorial Pool during summers, or building the furniture that filled his Colonia home—because why buy it when you can make it better yourself?

Throughout his 90 years, Pat was never without a dog. From Sabu in his teenage years to his final constant companion, Oliver, who now has to figure out who's going to slip him table scraps.

Pat is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Jean; his brother Nick; his six children: Patrick "Michael" Spagnoletti and wife Laipeng of Rio Rancho, NM; Robert Spagnoletti and husband Bernard Lewis of Washington, DC, and their children Hunter (and his son, Hunter, Jr.) and Anthony; Joseph Spagnoletti and wife Maria of Brigantine, NJ, and their children Joey and Julia and her husband Andrew; Maria Bacino and husband Rob of Flemington, NJ, and their children Zack and Jake; Christopher Spagnoletti and wife Karine of Longmont, CO, and their children Mia, Charlize, Izzy, and Becca; and Alicia Viscomi and husband Marc of Clinton, NJ, and their children Olivia and Gabby. He was predeceased by his brother Joe and his parents.

It is among Pat’s greatest accomplishments that he raised six children who, to this day, are close to their parents and each other.  His legacy of love will last for many generations to come.

Pat lived a life measured not in accolades, but in the students he inspired, the family he cherished, the furniture he built, and the coffee he consumed. He'll be deeply missed and lovingly remembered—probably over a cup of coffee.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to local animal shelters and/or Parkinson's Foundation (Link found on bottom of page) in support of ongoing care and research. Your kindness and support are greatly appreciated

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