LACEY – Mayor Nicholas Juliano will be remembered as a family man who loved his community. He died on March 1 after a brief battle with a very aggressive cancer.
Juliano, 63, passed surrounded by his wife and children. He valued local community groups, veteran’s organizations, police and the emergency service groups for their devotion to Lacey.
During Township Committee meetings, he would often thank the men and women who worked for the Township for their diligence. He was a humble man and credited the success of the community to the entire Township Committee noting the teamwork involved with his fellow committee members Steven Kennis, Peter Curatolo, Tim McDonald and Mark Dykoff.
“We work together as a team to bring our residents and business owners the best community it can be” Juliano had said.
Committee members reflected on the loss.
“Nick was a good man. To listen to him talk at meetings, he always said he cared about two things most in his life, his family and his community. He was a three-time mayor of the township and he forged a relationship with the township’s employees, emergency service agencies and organizations better than anyone. That meant a lot and is hard for a politician to do,” Dykoff said.
He added that Juliano “was such a good family man. He didn’t just talk the talk; he walked the walk. He cared about his family and community and that means a lot.”
Curatolo described Juliano saying he was “my true friend. His love for his town was eclipsed only by his love for his family. A true patriot, a great father and my friend. Love you Nick.”
Juliano also held the respect and friendship of political figures outside of Lacey. Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen Amato said he, “along with the Township Council, would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Juliano family and the citizens of Lacey Township on the passing of Mayor Nick Juliano.”
“Nick was a tireless advocate for the citizens of Lacey Township he served and a very dedicated and loving family man. Today we lost a good man and public servant. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family Peggy Sue and his beloved children.”
Township Administrator/Clerk Veronica Laureigh said in honor of the mayor’s passing, Township flags were lowered to half-staff and will remain so through March 6.
Juliano was active in local groups such as the Lacey Moose Lodge 1907. He received Citizen of the Year through Elks Lodge 2518 and was a Little League Hall of Famer.
He was recently named an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Lanoka Harbor Volunteer Fire Company.
“Mr. Juliano’s support and dedication to the fire company and all emergency services has been insurmountable. Mr. Juliano and his family have been very active with our fire company and have supported and assisted our events, drills and fundraisers throughout the years prior to his role on the governing body,” Fire Chief Jack Conaty said. “As a local business owner, Mr. Juliano always supported the Fire Company during fund drives and provided services and equipment to us when needed.”
Upon receiving this award, Juliano posted on social media “It has touched my heart in ways you will never know and it means the world to me and to my family.”
Juliano went on to say, “I cannot thank these volunteers enough for taking time away from their families to support the community. All of our employees, emergency service members and volunteers of our community put their hearts out there to make Lacey the great community it is to live in.”
“The people are why my family has made Lacey Township our home and I have been blessed by this community to be elected to serve them on the governing body and it is a great honor to be named mayor,” he added.
He was a native of Newark and moved to Ocean Gate and later the Forked River section of Lacey Township in 1989. From 1986 to 2009 he was the owner of a NAPA auto parts store and in recent years worked as the Field Supervisor for Spirits Unlimited.
A viewing will be held on Friday March 4, from 2-4, 6-8 p.m. and again on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Service at 11 a.m. at Riggs Funeral Home, 130 North Main Street, Forked River.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Popcorn Park Zoo, PO Box 43, Forked River, NJ 08731 in his memory. He is predeceased by his parents Peter and Carol and his brother-in-law William Doheny and is survived by his wife of 45 years Peggy Sue, his son Nicholas William Juliano, daughter Marisa Sue Juliano, mother-in-law Marie Krieger, as well as the other family members, friends and his pets.
