Alan Frontera Jr., 42, of New Milford died peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at his parents' home in Montvale while receiving the loving care of his family. He was a valiant 10-year survivor of a malignant brain tumor. The funeral will be on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 8:45 a.m. from the G. Thomas Gentile Funeral Home, 397 Union St., Hackensack. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 49 Vreeland Ave., Hackensack, at 10:00 a.m. Interment is in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Born in San Angelo, Texas, Alan lived in Crete, Greece, and Hackensack, Montvale and Park Ridge prior to moving to New Milford. Alan attended Jackson Avenue School, Hackensack, Memorial and Fieldstone schools in Montvale, and was graduated from Pascack Hills High School in 1984. He became certified in diesel mechanics after completing coursework at Engine City Technical School in Union. An avid computer enthusiast, he was also a certified Microsoft Systems Administrator. Alan was most recently employed by Member's Edge in Hackensack. A 26-year member of the Montvale Volunteer Fire Department, Alan joined as a Junior at age 16, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant. He took pride in chairing the annual Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast for nine years, training drivers for and performing routine maintenance on the fire trucks, and helping to restore the department's 1936 Seagrave. Alan served as a Republican County Committeeman in Park Ridge and New Milford. He was a member of the New Milford Republican Club. He was graduated from the Bergen County Sheriff's Department Citizens Police Academy, and was a volunteer for and member of the Bergen County 200 Club. Alan enjoyed skiing black diamond trails, rollerblading, scuba diving, camping, hunting, sharp-shooting and carpentry. He loved to travel, having most recently been to the Black Hills of South Dakota. An enthusiastic golfer, Alan was a member of the Eastern Amputee Golf Association. He was the beloved husband of Margaret (nee Cenci); the devoted son of Rosemary (nee D'Elia) and Alan Frontera Sr. of Montvale; dearest brother of Jason Frontera of North Quincy, Mass.; cherished grandson of Frances Frontera; loving nephew of Josephine Thornton; dear uncle of Dominick (Ann) and Russell (Margie) Frontera, all of Ridgefield Park; adored godson of Maryann Paolella Lamber of Hackensack; dear son-in-law of Frederick and Gertrude Cenci of Wallington, and brother-in-law of John Cenci of Pittsburgh, Pa. He is also survived by many cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his grandfathers, Paul D'Elia and Dominick Frontera, Sr., grandmother, Margaret Uzzalino D'Elia, and aunt Lois Frontera Florio.
Published in the Star-Ledger on 10/6/2008