Anthony Latacz

Anthony ("Tony") John Latacz, 68, died suddenly Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at his home in Waretown, New Jersey.

Tony, known to friends affectionately as Ducky, was born November 5, 1951 in Bayonne, New Jersey. Predeceased by his parents Dorothy and Anthony Latacz, he is survived by his wife of 27 years Joan (nee Buffin) Latacz, brother and sister-in-law Carl and Marie Latacz of Riverview, Florida; sister Suzanne Dalton of Barnegat, NJ and Sarasota, FL; step-children Lisa Scorsolini, of Newark, NJ, David and Ksenia Scorsolini of Philadelphia, PA, and Mark and Silvana Scorsolini of Newark, NJ; grandchildren Sophia and Mateo Scorsolini; niece Christa and her husband Adrian Jones of Blacklick, Ohio; nephew Jonathan and his wife Rebecca Latacz of The Colony, Texas; nephew Carl Jr. and his wife Sarah Latacz of Galena, Ohio; several great-nieces and great-nephews and cousins.

Tony graduated from the University of New Hampshire where he obtained a BS in Chemistry and was a star football player and received a Master's in Public Administration from Seton Hall University. He worked for Exxon briefly before entering the Port Authority of NY & NJ Police Academy in 1975 and enjoyed a 20 year career as a Port Authority Police Officer during which he served as a PBA delegate and volunteered at the Law Enforcement Torch Run benefiting the NJ Special Olympics. He served as part of the Port Authority Police Department's response to the 1993 World Trade Center bombings and at Ground Zero after 9/11. He also coached football for Old Bridge High School for a number of years.

In retirement, he and his wife, Joan, traveled and cruised the world, most recently visiting Poland where he was able to discover and learn about his Polish heritage. He was a die-hard Jets and Cubs fan, had visited nearly every NFL football stadium in the US, enjoyed boating, golf, clamming, and spending time with family and friends, most notably his two grandchildren. A friend to everyone he met, he will be loved and missed by all who knew him.

Visiting hours will be Sunday, December 22, 2019, 5pm to 9pm at Maxwell-Tobie Funeral Home, 573 Mill Creek Road, Manahawkin, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Monday, 12/23/19, 11am at St. Mary’s Church, 747 W. Bay Ave., Barnegat, NJ. Entombment to follow, Ocean County Memorial Park, Waretown, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to a charity of your choice.