Hazlet Mom Who Fought To Save Daughter From Fire To Be Honored

NEWARK, NJ — The late Jacqueline Montanaro, a heroic Hazlet wife and mother and U.S. Customs Supervisor, will be honored at the Archdiocese of Newark’s 30th Annual Blue Mass this Thursday.

The Mass is Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. in Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Montanaro, who was 40, died earlier this year after a fire at her Hazlet home.

She went back into the house - after her husband was enveloped by thick smoke - to try to save her younger daughter Mady, 6.

She and Madelyn were revived at the scene and were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, but efforts to save their lives failed.

The Montanaro family lived in Hazlet on Brookside Avenue: Jackie, her husband William, and elder daughter Elena and daughter Madelyn.

The Hazlet community, law enforcement and many in the area rallied to support and grieve with the family after the Jan. 14 house fire. A community vigil after the fire saw at least 2,000 gathered at Veterans Park in Hazlet.

Mrs. Montanaro died heroically and will be so honored at the Blue Mass, a tradition that pays tribute to all New Jersey law enforcement personnel, with 12 deceased officers being honored this year, a spokesman for the archdiocese said.

Additionally, for the first time, this Blue Mass will recognize two Newark firefighters — Capt. Augusto Acabou and Capt. Wayne Brooks, Jr. who died while battling a Port Newark cargo ship blaze.

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, will preside over the Mass, which will be attended by law enforcement and fire officials of all faiths representing federal, state, county, and municipal departments and agencies.

They will be joined by the families of the deceased being recognized as well as multiple police honor guard units, bagpipers, and drummers. High-ranking public officials will also be present to show their support.

In addition to Jacqueline Montanaro, other officers are being honored: Bayonne Police Captain Paul Jamolawicz, Port Authority Police Officer Anthony Varvaro, Deptford Township Police Officer Robert Shisler, Timothy Sullivan of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and New Jersey State Police Lieutenant Gerald Barbato.

The following officers also will be remembered: Bayonne Sergeant Robert Skalski, Newark Captain Richard Weber, Officer Brendan Burke of the New Jersey Transit Police, Lieutenant Walter A. Imbert of the Orange Police Department, Timothy O’Hare of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and Detective Alex Melendez of the New Jersey Transit Police.

A luncheon sponsored by law enforcement will be held at the Branch Brook Park Roller Rink in Newark following the Mass. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by contacting Vincent Nardone and William Schievella at 1-800-427-7651 or bluemass@embarqmail.com.