Totowa Kayaker's Body Found In Morris Co. Reservoir

ROCKAWAY, NJ — A Totowa man has been identified as the kayaker who went missing over Memorial Day Weekend in Splitrock Reservoir in Rockaway Township, New Jersey State Police confirmed.

The body of Michael Vecchiarella, 55, was recovered from the reservoir Friday afternoon, New Jersey State Trooper Alejandro Goez said. He was declared dead by the Morris County Medical Examiner's office shortly afterwards.

Vecchiarella went missing on Memorial Day. Entrances to the park were closed off after park-goers spotted an upside down kayak floating in the water. The incident and the cause of death remain under investigation.

According to an obituary, Vecchiarella was an avid kayaker and "loved the outdoors and all animals to the extreme," including his two pets, Dewey and Bama. When he wasn't pursuing his own outdoor hobbies, Vecchiarella coached baseball and hockey for Totowa PAL and baseball for the Tri-Boro Sting, Totowa.

He worked as a fragrance compounder for Mane, USA, and before that, as a fashion photographer in New York City.

Vecchiarella is survived by his companion, Chelsea Sacher, parents John and Joanne, and sister Maura Douglass. Information on services can be found on Festa Memorial Home's website.

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