Obituary of Matt Santonocito

Matt Santonocito, 59, of Morganville, passed away on Monday, February 10, 2020, at home. From the moment he was born, Matt was larger than life. His Sicilian-American parents hung signs from the upstairs windows of their Queens brownstone that proclaimed, “Welcomes Ten Pound Baby Boy!”

Matt’s first job involved heavy deli slicing equipment he probably had no business touching as a 17 year old. He worked at Pat and Joe's in Queens on 31st Ave and 76th Street. Here he learned how to debone prosciutto, and made everything from fresh mozzarella to rice balls. He enjoyed listening to the old folks gossip in Italian and sometimes placed bets on horses. After five years, he moved up to the famous Fontanella’s on 186 Grand St in Little Italy.

His culinary background and his love of making delicious treats that brought joy to others never left him, throughout his whole life. Matt was well known for his famous crumb cakes and Italian rainbow cookies that not a single soul could resist. You would find him arriving at parties with at least a tray of each in hand. He was an excellent cook, but truly a divine baker.

During his thirties, Matt switched careers, becoming an elevator mechanic. Or as he always teased his children, a “vertical transportation engineer”! He worked for Millar, Schindler, Otis, Peele, and City Elevator companies. With patience and an uncompromising work ethic, Matt worked his way up the ranks from apprentice to foreman of a six-man crew. His favorite department was Modernization, where he got to rip out the big clappers with their walls full of copper wires and replace them with shiny new elevators and transformers. Matt woke up before five each morning to commute by bus from Manalapan to Manhattan. He serviced elevators across the five boroughs, from Coney Island to the Empire State Building.

During the 9/11 terror attacks, Matt was working on elevators for New York Presbyterian Hospital. It took him 10 hours to get home. He survived that, and four heart attacks. Despite passing away so young, he will be remembered as invincible — beaming behind his Ray-Bans, astride a Harley Davidson.

Aside from being in the kitchen, the other great passion of Matt’s life was riding his Harley Davidson. He loved to spend time with his fellow motorcycle friends, “brothers”, as he fondly thought of them. In the warmer months, they would ride out to places like The Cabin together and spend hours socializing, laughing, and making memories. Matt was extremely proud of his Harley, and he looked like the image of youth when riding. He was an original member of the Battleground Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America . This special part of his life, and the friends he made, was something that gave him immense joy. He will forever Ride Free in Paradise. 

Matt was predeceased by his parents Anthony and Emanuela “Millie.” He is survived by daughter Kayla and her husband James Meredith; daughter April; son Matthew; son Michael; brother Tony and Richard; sisters Adele, Barbara and Debra; granddaughters Kiera and Rhiannon Meredith; and many beloved nieces and nephews.                                      

Should his loved ones desire, please consider making a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, a special cause Matt championed all his adult life.

Friends and family are invited to visit on Saturday, February 22, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, at Freeman Manalapan - Marlboro Funeral Home, 344 Route 9 North.  A funeral service will be held at Freeman Manalapan - Marlboro Funeral Home at 1:30 PM. To leave a condolence or find directions, visit www.freemanfuneralhomes.com.