Nicholas Francis Giovanni Of Lanoka Harbor Dies

Nicholas Francis Giovanni entered Heaven on Thursday, May 28, 2015 surrounded by his wife Kathy Giovanni (Zaborsky) and his loving family.

Born and raised in Hoboken, he moved to Toms River with his family, and lived in Bayville before settling in Lanoka Harbor. Nicholas worked for ShopRite for 30-plus years and taught aerobics and spin classes in the area for the past 15 years.

He is predeceased by his beloved mother, Eleanor Gruich (Schreiber), his brother Frank Giovanni and his treasured daughter Nicole Backus (Giovanni). He will always be missed by so many, especially his loving wife Kathy, beloved son Christopher Giovanni, precious grandchildren Alissa McGuire, Rory Giovanni, Brian Gural and Isabella Gural. Loving sister Lucy Giovanni, brother Ronald Giovanni and his wife Katharine, brother Michael Gruich and his wife Cathy McGuire, Rosemary Giovanni, father and mother in law Frank and Gabriela Zaborsky, sister in law Susan Zaborsky, and nieces, nephews, great nieces and too many aunts, uncles and cousins to name.

Nick found great joy in spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren, praising His Lord, Jesus, and ministering to others. 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Nick was an example of Love in Action. Serving was his Spiritual gift. OTHERS was not merely a bumper sticker on his car, it was what defined him. The bible was his guidebook for life, which encouraged him daily. He preached it not with words, but by his actions.

From the soup kitchen in Bayville, to holiday meals for homebound, to his Soles4Souls trip to Haiti, to his nursing home ministries, he lived James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Running and exercise became a passion that he loved sharing with others through work outs in the park and running clinics. Making it exciting and fun was his goal which he achieved completely with his tuxedo, bright and colorful lounge wear, sidewalk chalk, and jokes. He is remembered for his kindness, generosity, joy of life, love of food, enthusiastic encouragement, endless energy, and loud, contagious laughter.

A celebration of Nick’s life will be held at Bayside Chapel, Barnegat, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16. Desserts, Nick’s favorite of all foods, will be served. If you have a special memory of Nick you would like to share, Kathy is asking for written copies to make memory books for the grandchildren. Donations may be made to Soles4Souls, one of Nick’s cherished charities.