Victor J Pecore

Dr. Victor J Pecore of Westfield
Family Man, Merck retiree

Dr. Victor J Pecore aka Dad, F, Grandpa, Dips, Papa passed away on Monday, January 4, just one day shy of his 82nd birthday. Born on January 5th, 1939 to Theresa and Joseph Pecore, he was raised in Beacon NY with his sister Grace. He was fond of his childhood there especially his years spent at St. John's School. Victor was a gentleman of faith, integrity, quick wit, and humor.
He loved baseball, jazz, reading, crossword and math puzzles, family vacations motoring to historic sites and places of natural wonder –often with a side trip accompanied by wails of "Are we there yet?". He also loved his "Merckmates", his Fairmont Avenue neighbors, and mostly his children, grandchildren, and his "Lady."
Victor married Joan Cali on July 22, 1962, and together, they raised five children in Westfield. Over the years he was active in community activities, particularly those involving his children, holding leadership roles in the areas of sports, scouting, music, PTAs of Grant and Washington Schools.
In 1959, he was graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) with a BS in Chemical Engineering. Subsequently, he earned an MS in chemical engineering from Clarkson Institute of Technology, and, later an MS in Management Science/Operations Research from RPI, and a PhD from RPI in Operations Research/Chemistry.
As an undergraduate at RPI he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and the Army ROTC. He served in the US Army at Fort Bliss, TX and for several years in the NY State National Guard discharged at the rank of Captain.
He worked as a chemical engineer and consultant for several companies before spending the major part of his professional career at Merck and Company in Rahway, NJ, retiring as Senior Director of Strategic Research Analysis.
Survivors include his wife, Joan, children: Joseph (Tomi); Victor (Patricia), Joanna (John Benskin), Marisa Pucci (Christopher), and John (Lucia). Grandchildren Alexis, Jenna, Christina, Erica, Cali, Gianvito, Max, and great grandchild, Mason; sister Grace Laidlaw (George) nieces Lisa, Andrea, nephew, Michael and grandniece Elisabeth, grandnephews, Ethan, Oliver, Simon, Nolan, and Miles, as well as several cousins.
Interment took place in Fairview Cemetery, with arrangements are by Gray Funeral Home, Westfield. Please go to: www.grayfuneralhomes.com to offer condolences. An appropriate service of remembrance will be held hopefully in the summertime. Memorial contributions may be made to the neediest during this pandemic, i.e. to the Food Bank and/or academic needs of the schoolchildren at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church in Scotch Plains of which Victor is a communicant; the children of St Jude's or Shriner's Hospitals.