by Courtney Stafford, for the SBOANJ

Manalapan, NJ — Thomas D’Altrui, 96, an influential harness racing pioneer in the state of New Jersey, died Jan. 29, 2016.

Mr. D’Altrui was born in Villaricca, Italy, and raised in Newark. He lived in Irvington and Union previously. He was an executive, inventor, manufacturer and industrialist as owner of D’Altrui Industries in Elizabeth for 48 years.

Mr. D’Altrui served the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey as a director for 34 years (Man of the Year, 1983), was a director of Harness Horsemen International for 34 years (Man of the Year, 2000) and a director of the United States Trotting Association for 18 years. His lifelong love of harness racing forged the creation of DI Farms in Hillsborough, N.J.

He also served on the Advisory Board of the Summit Trust Co. for many years and was elected to the South Jersey Hall of Fame in 2006.

Mr. D’Altrui served in the United States Army Air Corp during World War II in Europe.

Mr. D’Altrui was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Sandra (Koster); son, Thomas (Cheryl); stepsons, Michael (Theresa) and Steven (Kirk); grandchildren, Matthew, Jessica, Matthew and Adam; five great-grandchildren; and sister, Carmela Santaniello. He was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Minnie (Danna) and their daughter, Marianne.

Visitation will be at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston, 145 E. Mount Pleasant Ave., on Wednesday (Feb. 3), from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be on Thursday (Feb. 4) at 10 a.m. at St. Philomena’s Church, 386 S. Livingston Ave., Livingston. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The ARC of Somerset County, 141 S. Main St., Manville, NJ 08835 or The Standardbred Retirement Foundation, 353 Sweetman’s Lane, Suite 101, Millstone Township, NJ 08535.