James "Jim" Morganti

James "Jim" Morganti passed away on March 25, 2024 at the age of 98. Jim lived in Fort Lee, New Jersey. He was born and raised in Union City, New Jersey. Jim was a graduate of Emerson High School where he was editor of the Class Yearbook and voted Class Actor. After graduation Jim attended Montclair State College and Jersey City Teachers College. He received his Master's at Columbia University, New York, New York. During his teen years Jim would travel to New England where he would perform in summer theater. For 13 years Jim also performed at Veronicas Veil Theater in Union City, where he played the role of Jesus. Jim also starred in many other productions. After graduation from college, Jim's first teaching position was at Ardsley High School, Ardsley, New York, where he taught English, speech therapy and directed their annual spring musical. He then taught at Emerson High School where he introduced Speech Arts into the program. Later on Jim taught Speech and Drama Workshop at the new Paramus High School, Paramus, N.J.* There he directed and produced many plays. Jim was a professor at St. Peters College, Jersey City and at retirement he taught English at St. Peters College-Holy Name Hospital School of Nursing. Jim's love and passion was for old Hollywood and Broadway. He attended numerous Broadway shows in New York and at the Papermill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. For 29 years Jim vacationed at the Wauwinet Hotel in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Jim is survived by his sister Jane Stern, his nephews Christopher and Jonathan Stern, a great nephew and great niece Thomas and Sienna Stern. Preceding him in death was his mother and father Arthur and Anna Morganti, and his sisters Arlene and Lynn Morganti.

Funeral from the A.K. Macagna Funeral Home 495 Anderson Avenue Cliffside Park, N.J. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 8:30am thence to Epiphany R.C. Church where a Funeral Mass will be offered at 9:30am. Interment to follow at George Washington Memorial Park Cemetery in Paramus, N.J. The family will receive their friends Tuesday 5-7pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Pl Memphis, TN 38105-9959

*The original obituary was corrected here to provide the classes taught and removing the inaccuracy that he served as Principal.

Yearbook photos from 1960 to 1968 in left to right order by row.

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Posted online on March 28, 2024
Published in Record and Herald News