Anthony Mario Pinelli, 73, died Saturday, Sept. 10 with his wife by his side.
Born to the late Pietro and Filomena Pinelli on March 24, 1938, in Princeton, he graduated from Princeton High School in 1956 and joined the Princeton Township Police Department in 1961.
He married Luemma King in 1962 and they lived together in Skillman before relocating to St. Ignatius, Montana in 1991.
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He was with the Princeton Township Police Department for over 26 years. He began as a patrolman, served as a juvenile officer and moved up through the ranks retiring as police chief in 1987. During that time he attended the FBI National Academy.
He and his wife fulfilled a lifelong dream by moving to Montana in 1991. He indulged his love for wildlife by becoming a National Park Ranger at the National Bison Range in Moiese, Montana, for four years. He had spent the last 20 years hunting, fishing and enjoying all of Montana's treasures.
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He served in the National Guard for six years. He was a member of the 200 Club of Mercer County, the Italian American Sportsman Club, the Mercer County Police Chiefs Association, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the New Jersey State PBA and was a lifetime member of Princeton PBA Local No. 130.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Luemma Pinelli, and their children, Peter and Betsy Pinelli of Connecticut, Janice and Gary Schenck of Lawrenceville, and Donna and Michael Post of Ewing. He is also survived by grandchildren Kate, Sara, Antonio, Gavin, Reece, Talia and Emily; a brother, Frank, and Shirley Pinelli; a sister, Lydia, and Ralph Pirone; sisters Eleanor and Anne Pinelli as well as numerous family and friends.
A funeral will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19, at the Mather Hodge Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, 214 Nassau St. Burial will be at Princeton Cemetery. A viewing will be held at the funeral home from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial service will be held at a later time at the Mission Catholic Church in St. Ignatius, Montana.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Princeton Pettoranello Foundation, 120 John St., Princeton NJ 08542.
