Obituary of Vito Ratti
Vito A. Ratti Jr., 82, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 11, 2023, at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida with his wife, Mary, at his side. He was a kind and generous man who always put his family first.
Vito was born in Jersey City and raised in Union City. He then moved to South Plainfield in 1965 and lived there until 2015. He and his wife retired to Port St. Lucie, FL where he enjoyed golf and the warm weather.
Vito graduated from Holy Family High School in 1959. He was a graduate of the Rutgers Business College with High Honors. He attended Seton Hall University, Summa Cum Laude, earning his Master’s Degree in Quantitative Analysis.
While attending college, Vito worked at PSE&G in Elizabeth. He then was employed by Lummus Engineering, where he was a Procurement Specialist for nearly 15 years. Vito then desired to own his own family business. He bought his first store, Barnabee Liquors, in 1986 in North Brunswick. Following the success of this location, he then opened VW Liquors in Edison and Oak Tree Liquors in South Plainfield.
In addition to golf at the Metuchen Country Club, he enjoyed bowling, racquetball, softball, and fishing. At home, he and his high school sweetheart, Mary, enjoyed raising their three sons and several dogs. He was a lifelong Yankees fan and loved watching his grandchildrens’ sports and activities.
Predeceased by his parents, Jenny and Vito Sr., Vito leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Mary; three sons, David and his wife Patricia, Dean and his wife Denise, and Daniel and his wife Jennie; and grandchildren, Timothy, Alison, Michael, Caroline, Samantha, Christopher, Nicholas, and Alexis; and his sister, Virginia Marano; along with a host of extended relatives and friends.
A Memorial Gathering for relatives and friends will be held at the McCriskin – Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ, on Friday, September 22, 2023, from 4 PM to 8 PM.
A Memorial Mass will be held at Sacred Heart RC Church, 149 South Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ, on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 10:00 AM