West Long Branch Veteran Dies In 2023 Motorcycle Crash, Gives Organs

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — Dennis Vaccaro grew up in West Long Branch and, as a young man, he enlisted with the U.S. Army.

Vaccaro logged five years of service, including a tour of Afghanistan. In that time, he also married. Tragically, Vaccaro died in June 2023 after a motorcycle accident. But because he was a registered organ donor, in his death, Vaccaro saved four lives — his heart, kidneys and liver were transplanted to patients in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, giving them a second chance at life.

“Dennis’s caring spirit continues to live on,” said his mother, Teresa "Teri" Vaccaro. “His organs went to people he’d never met, yet they’re connected to him in the most extraordinary way. Our family likes to say he gave them 'super gifts,' and that’s exactly the kind of man he was — strong, generous and truly heroic."

Vaccaro joined the U.S. Army in 2016, a journey that led him to serve as an airborne combat medic with the 82nd Airborne Division. Throughout his five years of service, including a tour in Afghanistan, Dennis’s devotion to his fellow soldiers and his country was evident. He was the kind of soldier who put the needs of others above his own, even volunteering his leave time so a fellow soldier could be with family.

"Dennis was our light, and while his loss leaves a void in all of us who knew him, his gifts as an organ donor have been a way for us to heal. He didn’t just leave us — he’s still giving, and that makes all the difference," said his mother. "Dennis had a way of always putting others first, even in the smallest things."

Vaccaro's legacy lives on through the recently established Dennis A. Vaccaro Foundation. The foundation raises funds to support veterans, organ donation advocacy and scholarships for students at Shore Regional High School pursuing both academic and vocational paths.

To learn more about organ donation, get involved, and join the National Donate Life Registry, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.