Plan for the Future
Craig A. Sacco
Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather & Friend
Craig A. Sacco, 68, of Chester, NJ, passed peacefully on March 1, 2023. Born in Summit, NJ, he was a long-time resident of Chatham, before residing in New Vernon and Madison, and then moving to Chester.
A graduate of Chatham Borough High School (Class of 1972), Craig went immediately into the family business, Chatham Moving & Storage, where he worked for 46 years. In addition to holding the title of Vice President, Craig also worked on the trucks, maintained a Class A CDL License with all qualifications, and it is estimated he drove well over 1 million miles throughout his career. He retired in 2018.
In 1985, he was set up on a blind date though mutual friends with the love of his life, and soulmate, Clarissa (née Kaes). He eventually “won” her hand in marriage in a failed game of miniature golf in the summer of 1986, and they were married in 1987. They went on to have one child, their daughter, Victoria, Craig’s pride and joy. Craig was the ultimate doting father, happy to brag about Victoria’s many accomplishments, and was her #1 fan throughout her field hockey career, hardly ever missing a single game. He was proud to gain a son in 2017, when Victoria married her soulmate, Nicholas Lamberti, Jr., but he was most excited to earn the title of “Grandpa” in 2021 with the birth of his granddaughter, and light of his life, Olive Bette Lamberti. Despite only having 20 short months together, they formed an inseparable bond and were as thick as thieves.
Craig was a passionate, life-long learner. His immense intellectual curiosity and ability to recall information across the spectrum of most useful, to the most utterly useless, made him the most valuable trivia teammate, and interesting conversationalist. He was known to strike up a conversation with just about anyone, but of course, that was more reflective of his kind, and positive personality. Craig is ultimately remembered for his incredible sense of humor, and ability to make others smile and laugh. From his razor sharp wit, to his arsenal of bad “dad jokes” and puns, you were always guaranteed a good laugh in his presence.
His love language was acts of service. Always putting others before himself, Craig volunteered in many capacities in his local community. He was a long-time member of the former Chatham Rotary Club, serving 2 terms as President and was recipient of the Paul Harris Award. He was also a former Board Member of the Madison YMCA and Chairman of the Property Committee responsible for the expansion of the F.M. Children’s Kirby Center. There were many causes that Craig supported, but some near and dear to his heart were the Appalachian Toy Drive through St. Patrick’s Church in Chatham, the Touch-A-Truck Event sponsored through Friends of the Madison Public Library, and the Halos for Angels Volunteer organization of Florham Park. He was honored by Halos for Angels in 2019 as an “Outstanding Volunteer Angel.”
Last, but certainly not least, Craig was the ultimate friend. The outpouring of love and support since his passing is a true testament to the incredible legacy of love, kindness, and light he leaves behind. He is gone far too soon, and deeply missed, but has left an immeasurable impact on the physical world he leaves behind.
Craig was pre-deceased by his father, Eugene “Buddy” Sacco. He is survived by his wife Clarissa Sacco (née Kaes), his daughter Victoria Sacco Lamberti and her husband Nicholas, his granddaughter Olive Bette Lamberti and his mother Bette Sacco. He is also survived by seven siblings, many nieces and nephews, and countless friends.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 11am at Christ the King Church, New Vernon, NJ. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, from 4pm to 8pm at the Wm. A. Bradley & Son Funeral Home, 345 Main St., Chatham, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations in Craig’s name may be made to: Halos for Angels, Inc.
