Plan for the Future
Carmen Alex Blandino, 89, passed away unexpectedly at Morristown Medical Center on Saturday, January 2, 2021 after a life full of service, faith, and love of family.
Carmen was born to Georgio and Santa “Sadie” (Zito) Blandino in Newark, NJ, on October 11, 1931. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1952 and served as an airman and aerial photographer in the Korean War until 1955.
Carmen married the love of his life, Stella Mantineo, on July 18, 1954. They shared 66 wonderful years together as they built their family.
Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Carmen began a long career with Leonard Wholesale Drug in Elizabeth, NJ, as a buyer for commercial products. In his free time, Carmen enjoyed expanding his photography skills with photos of his family as well as cheering on his favorite teams, the Giants and Yankees. He considered himself one of Frank Sinatra’s biggest fans.
In 1968, Carmen and Stella moved their family to Whippany, NJ, where he became actively involved in his church, Our Lady of Mercy, as a parishioner and Trustee. He was a founding member of the Knights of Columbus Council #6904 where he held many officer positions over the years. He was also active in the NJ state Knights of Columbus.
Carmen lived his life with integrity and compassion for those around him, sharing his time and talents abundantly. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Carmen is survived by his loving wife, Stella; children Karen LaRusso and her companion Joseph Esposito, and George Blandino and his wife Michele; grandchildren Danielle Kelly and her husband George, and Jennifer and Michael Blandino; great-grandson, George Kelly V; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Carmen is preceded in death by his parents, Georgio and Sadie Blandino, and his brother Antonio Blandino.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 90 Whippany Rd. in Whippany on Thursday, January 7th at 10am. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to visit at Bradley-Braviak Funeral Home, 49 Whippany Rd., also in Whippany on Wednesday from 4 to 7pm. For further information or to send a condolence, please visit www.www.bradleyfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Carmen’s memory be made to the Knights of Columbus Council #6904, P.O. Box 37, Cedar Knolls, NJ, 07927.
