Donald J. Ferrara Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Donald (Diego) Joseph Ferrara of Freehold, New Jersey, formerly of Staten Island, New York, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving children on Sunday, July 31, 2022, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Born on May 31, 1935, in Staten Island, New York, he was the son of the late Anthony and Beatrice Ferrara and the brother of the late Josephine Graboski. Donald served in the Navy and was a retired safety officer at the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities. Donald comes from a long line of talented individuals and he himself was a man of many talents. Although many knew him to be a singer, in his younger years he spent much of his time with his horse, Apache, along with his buddies in their Abilene Posse in many horse shows. As a talented artist, he designed carpets which found him in the Manhattan homes of some famous people including the wife of the late Jackie Gleason, one of his very favorites of all time. This just scratches the surface when describing this incredible man. Donald is survived by his loving daughter, Rosemary, his devoted son, Anthony, and his precious grandchildren, Nicole, Philip, Anthony, Lauren, and his beautiful great-grandson, Calvin; each of whom he often referred to as the GREATEST. The family will receive friends from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 7, 2022, at the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Inc., 28 Eltingville Blvd, Staten Island, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 8, 2022 at St. Clare Church located at 110 Nelson Ave Staten Island, New York 10308. Interment will follow in Moravian Cemetery, Staten Island, NY.

Donald J. Ferrara

May 31, 1935 - July 31, 2022