Thomas William Wuensch Sr., 73, of Middletown, passed away peacefully June 6, 2025. Tom was born July 26, 1951, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, to parents Joseph and Marion Wuensch.
He is survived by his wife Melanie Paggioli; his son Thomas Jr. and his wife Jacqueline; his daughter Jessica Strange and her husband Casey; his sister Patricia; his stepson Sean McSwegan; and his six grandchildren, Sofia, Thomas III, Ian, Stellina, Benjamin and Colette. Tom was predeceased by his parents and siblings, Carolyn Pylilo and Joseph P. Wuensch Sr.
Tom graduated from Xaverian High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 19. The Navy deployed him to outposts in San Francisco and later assigned him to the CINPAC Fleet in Honolulu as a communications technician. After his discharge, he held financial roles for the City of New York/FISA, followed by opportunities within Sprint Nextel Communications, the American Red Cross, and Bank Leumi.
Tom will be forever remembered for his love of the New York Yankees, Mickey Mantle, playing fast-pitch softball, his witty sense of humor, his love of music, Lee’s Tavern pizza, and summers spent in Lake Hopatcong. Affectionately called “PopPop” by his grandchildren, his greatest joy was sharing the love of the lake with them. He will be dearly missed.
Visitation and a prayer service were held June 10 at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. Private burial services will be held in the future at BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Tom’s memory to one of his favorite charities: The Tunnel to Towers Foundation at t2t.org.
The article originally appeared in the June 19 – 25, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
