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Conrad (Connie) Vuocolo was an engineer with the NJ Turnpike Authority and he owned and operated a body shop and gas station on Route 35 South in Pt. Pleasant Beach.
We grew up in the same community. Years later, he and my dad would work together on the Turnpike. Connie Vuocolo was a proud Elk first,(NJ Lodge #1608), a tireless volunteer, a civic leader who cared enough about issues to run for local office; and he was a man who dedicated much of his life to veterans causes.
When he passed away in October - 2007, I sent a letter to the editor @ The Ocean Star newspaper in Ocean County, New Jersey. Below is a copy of what was published on Friday, October 19th, 2007.
You see... In the end, I loved Connie like a brother and revered him as my friend because for thirty years - I never had to let a parade pass me by.
What would people who touch your life write about you? - Tish
----- Original Message -----
From: Tish Ferguson
To: editor@theoceanstar.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 3:39 AM
Subject: Conrad Vuocolo - The Quiet Acts of a Giant.
Dear Editor,
In 1979 - our friend - the late Conrad Vuocolo, who died too soon this week on October 15th, offered to lend me and a group of cousins his flatbed truck when we signed up to compete in our first Lion's Club Inner Tube Race. Because of Conrad's generosity, friends, family and neighbors would participate by building ten more floats over the next decade for this glorious event that the late Gene Bissey and other local icons transformed into a fesitival for all seasons - a result brought on by the energy of gregarious and positive men who honored all of us by simply sharing their love of life and humor with the community.
For those of us in mourning this week, we find comfort in knowing that Conrad Vuocolo was another one of those larger-than-life characters whose high voltage tactics managed to leave the masses laughing in the aisles during good times and bad. His generosity, wicked humor and giant heart livened up community events and always inspired spontaneous fun including weekend festivals that turned backyards and driveways into the kind of gathering posts that were reminicent of nostalgic reunions of times gone by. It's hard to imagine how a group of people could laugh harder than we did at our first few float festivals especially since we could count on Conrad to laugh the loudest at the expense of most of us who were present.
Our last legitimate parade entry in an Inner Tube Race would be September, 1991, but Conrad would later revive the excitement of these experiences by introducing children of all ages to the wonders of the motorized float at the Pt. Pleasant Halloween Parade, Memorial Day Parade, Pt. Beach Homecoming and the Panther Football Spirit Parades. There could be no motorized float without Conrad sitting in the driver's seat of his All-American Towing trucks every single time.
Each year Conrad would shout that caller ID or changing his phone number could save him from the perils of this repeat request. But don't be fooled, he smiled wryly over the years as no less than hundreds of local children leaped onto his flatbeds dressed as cheerleaders, sports figures, 101 Dalmations, Cruella Deville, dog catchers, characters from their favorite books, leprechauns, the ghosts of Y2K, pirates and princesses of the Caribbean, Lucille Ball, and members of the Brady Bunch too. We had so much fun!
Conrad, who is a member of the Pt. Pleasant Elks, would have denied it, but during last year's 2006 Chamber of Commerce Halloween Parade, several of us observed the emotion and pride shining in his eyes as he drove and escorted our 25th and final float down Bridge Avenue. This fun-loving small town hero drove 70 costumed kids and a few crazy adults right into the arms of their final first place trophy. The Nick@Nite and TV Land themes created a wonderful ending to an awesome journey that began for a small group of us on the streets of this incredible town thirty years ago. The entire day was an upbeat and unbelieveable experience!
This week, the only thing that's unbelieveable is that one of our down-home good guys is now gone. Conrad Vuocolo made a difference in the lives of kids and in our community by simply showing up and being himself. I know for a fact, that he enjoyed escorting children, football supporters, friends and especially veterans in any local parade. This Halloween, I ask all those kids and adults who ever travelled on one of the All-American Towing Trucks during a parade to take a moment to laugh aloud over something that pleases you.
A smile or a hardy laugh is the perfect way to honor the memory of this humble man with a sense of humor who was a friend to more people than anyone can imagine. We offer our deepest respect and condolences to Conrad's wonderful parents and to the entire Vuocolo Family at this difficult time.
Respectfully submitted,
Tish Ferguson
Pt. Pleasant, NJ
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