Columbus, OH — Vincenzo Villante, 92, of Margate, Fla., died Oct. 30, 2023, at Broward Health North, Pompano Beach, Fla.

Mr. Villante was born in San Giuseppe Jato, Sicily, Italy and was raised in Monreale, Sicily, Italy. As a young man, he traveled to Maturin, Venezuela to work as a mason. In 1954, he came to the United States, settling in Brooklyn. He then moved to the Manalapan-Englishtown area in 1972.

He worked as a mason for Jacoma Concrete Contractors, Old Bridge, until his retirement and moved to Margate in 2005. In retirement, he was a member of the FSBOA, PHHA, SBOANJ, and the USTA and owned several racehorses with his daughter, Rosalia (Jake) Huff and raced at Pompano Park, Meadowlands and Pocono.

Prior to this, Mr. Villante relished his time at the bowling alleys in Manalapan, N.J. and Margate and going to the tracks in New Jersey.

A man of faith, he was a parishioner of St. Vincent’s Catholic Church in Margate and a former parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Englishtown, N.J.

He was a loving husband of 57 years, a proud father, and adoring grandpa and great-grandpa.

Mr. Villante is survived by daughters-in-law, Linda and Josephine Mede; son, Thomas (Diane); daughter, Rosalia (Jake) Huff; grandchildren, Nicole Villante-Reina (Johnathan), Kristin (Tiago) Lucas, Danielle, Anna Marie, John, Ronald Huff, Ryan Huff, Giavanna, Kristina and Vincenza; great-grandchildren, Arabella, Jaxson, Julian, Everliegh, and Theo; sister, Margarita Lazio; and numerous nieces, nephews, dear cousins and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Salvatore and Rosalia (nee D’Anna); siblings, Maria, Pietro, Guiseppe, and Rosetta; wife, Rosemarie; and sons, Salvatore and Pietro.

A visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Thursday (Nov. 9) from 4-8 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home on Friday (Nov. 10) at 9:45 a.m. for the procession to his 11 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Gabriel’s Historic Church (located on the cemetery’s grounds), 549 Newman Springs Road (Route 520), Marlboro, NJ 07746. Entombment will follow in St. Gabriel’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christian Harness Horsemen’s Association (CHHA), 157 North Main Street, Salem, NH 03079.

For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.