Barbara Napolitano

Barbara Napolitano (nee Linden), died on October 27, 2024 at the age of seventy-six after a long illness. She is  survived by her loving husband of fifty-five years, Thomas. She is also survived by her daughters,  Susan Napolitano and Elizabeth Napolitano and five grandchildren, Andrew Parry, Katherine Parry, Caroline Parry, Madeline Rader and Jackson Rader. She is also survived by her sister, Marian Linden, of Tarrytown, New York.

Barbara was born in New York City. She grew up in West New York, New Jersey until her family  moved to Allendale when she was about to begin 8th grade. She graduated from Immaculate  Heart Academy followed by Ladycliff College where she majored in French but had a keen  interest in biology. She used her biology after graduation to work in a research lab at Columbia  Presbyterian Medical Center in New York before staying home to raise her children.

During the children’s youth Barbara was active and held various leadership roles in the girls’  Parent Teacher Organizations. She also served as a Trustee and Treasurer of West Bergen  Mental Health Center.

Barbara enjoyed sewing and knitting. Over the years she made countless items of clothing and  created many knit sweaters, children’s stuffed toys and afghans. These frequently reflected her  own designs.

Barbara met her husband, Tom, through the St. Paul’s CYO. They dated during college and  married after their respective graduations. They shared many common interests but the longest  lasting was Georgetown University and more specifically following the men’s basketball team.

They attended countless Georgetown basketball games in Washington, DC on a regular basis  and visited over 30 cities for away games. When it wasn’t possible to attend, they watched  virtually all Georgetown games and many of its Big East competitors’ games on television.

Their interest in Georgetown extended beyond basketball. After their daughter, Susan,  graduated from Georgetown in 1997, Barbara and Tom served on the Dean’s Advisory Council  of the College of Arts and Sciences for two terms. In 2000 they created a digital arts studio on  campus. Later they contributed to the placement of plasma screens on campus to showcase  student art and later to other capital projects.

In 2006, Barbara and Tom were honored as members of the University’s 1789 Society. In 2014, they were recognized for their Outstanding Support of Georgetown Athletics. In their estate planning Barbara and Tom created a trust to fund scholarships for gifted  students.

Barbara’s last illness was a multi-year battle with Stage Four Sarcoma. Barbara’s life was  prolonged through modern medicine but at a cost of numerous side effects from the  treatments and medicines. Barbara was grateful for the care and concern of the many  healthcare providers with whom she dealt. Flowing from that, in 2024 Barbara and her husband  created an endowed scholarship fund at Ramapo College to assist nursing students.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home in  Ramsey. In keeping with Barbara’s wishes there will be no viewing. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul RC Church, 200 Wyckoff Ave., Ramsey, NJ. Interment will follow at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the food rescue group, Table to Table located at 160 Pehle Ave., Saddle Brook, NJ  07663. 

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