Thomas J. Bonfiglio, 62, of Rumson, died July 1, 2022, at Riverview Medical Center.
Tommy was born and raised in Brooklyn. He graduated from Nazareth High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from Pace University and his Doctorate of Law from Brooklyn Law School.
He founded Tommy’s Tavern + Tap restaurant in Sea Bright, which has grown to include restaurants in Freehold, Edison, Princeton, Morris Plains, Clifton, Bridgewater and Staten Island. He also founded the restaurant concept Tio Taco + Tequila, in Marlboro, Clifton and Edison. Tommy loved to study business and read about other entrepreneurs and enjoyed running his restaurant company, Triple T Hospitality Group, always working to bring the best food and best experience to his guests.
Tommy enjoyed long walks on the beach with his best friend Yvette, whom he married 31 years ago. He was an avid reader, particularly any books that involved business or biographies of business leaders. He was a passionate, smart man who always put his family before himself. He enjoyed Johnny Cash music, disco, especially Barry White, and loved to listen to Yvette play the piano.
He enjoyed Sunday dinner, Thanksgiving in Florida and Christmas in New Jersey, but mostly he wanted to be with his family every day and create a happy loving environment for all. Today his wife, daughters and sons-in-law all work in the company together.
Surviving Tommy is his loving wife, Yvette Dellavalle Bonfiglio and their daughters and sons-in-law, Andrea and Michael Spence, Fair Haven and Christina and Christopher Dietz, Fair Haven.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 7 at Holy Cross Church in Rumson. There will be no public visitation at the funeral home.
In lieu of traditional remembrances, Tommy’s family asks that contributions to his favorite charity be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.
To share a favorite memory or send a message of condolence please visit Tommy’s page of tributes at holmdelfuneralhome.com.
The article originally appeared in the July 7 – 13, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
