Obituary of Edmund Zavaglia

Edmund Aloysius Zavaglia passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday January 9, 2022. Ed was born on November 16,1931 at St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic, NJ. He attended Clifton High School in Clifton, NJ. He received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Philadelphia Textile Institute (now Philadelphia University/Thomas Jefferson University) and his Masters and Doctorate degrees in Polymer Chemistry at the University of Delaware. While at Philadelphia Textile Institute he was a member and captain of the university's basketball team where he was named most valuable player and later inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. After graduation from Philadelphia Textile Institute, he enlisted in the US Army where he served for two years and played on the Army's basketball team. Ed was an extremely hard working and generous man. He began his professional career at Union Carbide and later started two successful companies which he loved building, the latter with his son Michael. He raised his family and lived in Basking Ridge, NJ for 40 years where he was very active in St. James Roman Catholic Church. He devoted himself to his church and helping others. He is preceded in death by his parents Angela (Pellegrini) and Joseph Zavaglia who immigrated from Italy, his beloved brothers Fran, Jimmy, and Aloysius and a cherished infant granddaughter, Grace Marie Gibbs. Ed is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Mary Catherine (Martin) and his dear, loving children Michael Zavaglia (Justine) of Chapel Hill, NC, Eileen Zavaglia Basile (David), of Westfield, NJ, Lynda Zavaglia Gibbs (Bob) of South Riding, VA, & Caren Zavaglia Schon (Ed) of Basking Ridge, NJ. Twelve dear grandchildren survive him including Michaela, Gillian and Jimmy Zavaglia, Matthew, Caitlyn and Brendan Basile, Katie, Christopher, Michael and Patrick Gibbs, Ryan and Jack Schon. He is also survived by faithful and loving cousins, nieces and nephews. Ed loved his immediate and extended family, and his many loyal friends. The family will receive friends and family on Saturday January 15, 2022 from 9:00am-11:30am at Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, NJ. Mass of Christian burial will immediately follow at St. James Roman Catholic Church, 184 S. Finely Avenue, Basking Ridge, NJ at 12:00pm. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. For further information, or to leave an online condolence message please visit www.gcfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, please perform an act of kindness in our Dad's memory, because this was how he lived, or donations can be made to The Grace Marie Gibbs Foundation, 42566 Longacre Drive, South Riding, VA 20152 or St. James Men of Charity, https://st-james-men-of-charity.square.site/donate