Michael A Pagliuca

Michael Albert Pagliuca, 94, patriarch of the Pagliuca family, passed away on Sunday, December 28th, 2025. He was a loving father, grandfather and husband.

Michael was born in 1931 in Brooklyn, NY to Alberto and Assunta Pagliuca. He is predeceased by his wife, Giustina (Fiore) Pagliuca, his parents, his sister Concetta, and his brother Albert. Michael married Giustina Fiore in 1959. Michael is survived by his four children and their partners Michael and Ruth Pagliuca, Marie Sciarra and Michael Ippoliti, Valerie and Darren Rosario, and Carolyn and Wayne Meda. Michael is survived by his grandchildren Tabitha, Jordan (and her husband Ryan), Robby, Logan, Taylor, Anika, Scottie and Alyssa.

From 1949-1954, Michael attended the Philadelphia College of Textiles (now part of Thomas Jefferson University) where he earned a degree in Textile Engineering. While in college, he played on the school’s basketball team. He had a great jump shot and the ability to cut to the basket with great quickness. Even at the age of 80, he took pride in being able to palm a basketball in front of his grandkids. His competitive basketball career came to halt when he was a passenger in a car that was involved in an accident. Even after that accident, he never lost his love of the game, and it was fun for his children to watch him play an occasional “pick up” game. He played the game like the basketball purist that he was.

In 1954, Michael joined the United States Army. He completed his training in Fort Dix, NJ and then was stationed in Japan. While in the service, Michael earned the designation of certified marksman. After leaving the United States Army, he returned to Brooklyn and followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a textile salesman. Even as the textile industry was succumbing to unfair foreign trade practices, Michael loved and excelled at what he did. In addition to leading multiple national sales organizations, Michael assumed responsibilities in both textile design and manufacturing. He loved the textile industry and had a passion for his work. He could tell you how fabric was made, explain how it was woven and tell you the best way to remove a spot based on the composition of the fabric. His creative side flourished when he began to design laces and trims for some of the industry’s top wedding gown companies and novelty companies including Vermont Teddy Bear. Those bears’ outfits used lace trims, he designed, made and sold. Through curiosity, expertise and hard work, he taught himself how to optimize manufacturing processes to ensure a quality product and a profitable price. He was truly “woven” into the textile industry (pun intended).

Michael’s segment of the textile industry had an association called R.A.G (Retailers Association Group). They affectionately called themselves “Rag Men”. He was the only person to be elected twice by his peers as President. While he loved that organization, he loved the membership even more. Some of his closest friends came from his work in the textile industry.

After retiring and fully recovering from the first sextuple bypass in Northern NJ, Michael became immersed in his family, cooking, photography and traveling to seehis family and friends. He spent countless hours at his home in the Adirondacks. He did much of the work on that house himself by teaching himself how to do electrical, plumbing and light carpentry work. He always had a “can do” attitude and truly believed that he could figure out how to do most things. When people would come to the house, he was quick to invite them to sit and have a meal. He maintained a strong body, mind and spirit in retirement. After his heart surgery he changed his diet and physical routines. He had the body of a man twenty years his junior, could still fit into his GI uniform and would not put empty or harmful calories into his body. He was quick to offer dietary advice and share his opinions of both good and bad foods. He always said that he was alive because of the “way that he ate”.

Michael was a conversationalist. He was keenly interested in both hearing and telling stories. Micheal genuinely loved people and had the natural ability to connect with people which led him to build relationships and friendships all over the country. In retirement, his creative appetite was satisfied through his photography. As an avid photographer, he would often take people’s pictures, mat them and send them to his new acquaintances accompanied by a handwritten note. His landscape and scenery pictures are currently displayed in the offices of his doctors, friend’s homes, and other organizations who asked Michael to use his skills to photographically document their history. His love of photography often took him outdoors while he was in the Adirondacks as well as many other locations in the US and beyond. He loved being out in nature and doing his best to capture its beauty through his photography.

But more than anything else, Michael loved to spend time with his family. He loved his four children and cherished spending time with his eight grandchildren. He loved attending their games, their competitions, birthdays or any other activity that was important to them. Grandpa was always interested and engaged. And of course, he always brought his camera to capture those moments. He was quick to provide help if one of his children or grandchildren needed an item repaired. He always had his toolbox with him. Michael loved to cook for his family and friends. He would often say, “Enjoy that meal because it was made from leftovers and you’ll never have another one like it.” If his family ever needed help from Dad or Grandpa, he was there. He never hesitated to pick up the phone or get in the car to spend time with his family. He wanted to be involved with his family and prioritized that time. He was successful. He will be greatly missed by his children and grandchildren.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life at The Morrison Etheridge Funeral Home, 86 Bartholdi Ave, Butler, NJ. Visitation will take place on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM, with a funeral service at 1:30 PM.

The family kindly requests that, in place of flowers, donations be made to the Boys Town (www.boystown.org) in Michael Pagliuca’s name."