Theodore C. Maraviglia

Part of “The Greatest Generation,” Theodore (Teofilo) Claude Maraviglia was born in Newark, N.J., on Aug. 26, 1911, the first born of Pacificio Maraviglia and Rosina (Valeri). He graduated from Barringer High School in 1927 and at age 17 received a regents scholarship to be the first in his family to attend college. He went to Rutgers University, where he was captain of the fencing team, and attained a degree in chemistry when he was 19 years old.

He worked for the Food and Drug Administration, and was accepted into medical school. However, he answered his country’s call and served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater for the duration of World War II. He was an intelligence officer in the Signal Corps, where he helped de-code German messages. He was with the troops that liberated Dachau Concentration Camp.

After the war, he proudly worked as a public servant for the Food and Drug Administration for 40 years: as a chemist in New York, an inspector in Detroit, a director in Cincinnati, and finally a regional director in Philadelphia. Upon retirement he continued his commitment to public service by working for Common Cause of Pennsylvania. He received national recognition for his work, receiving the Archibald Cox Volunteer of the Year Award in 1993.

He was married to Maria Rosaria Fulcoli for 40 years. He had one child, Claudia (Maraviglia) Dewane, and two granddaughters, Mollie Marie Dewane of North Wales, Pa., and Magdalena Marie Dewane, West Orange, N.J.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Anna (Maraviglia) DiGiovanni and Inez (Maraviglia) Dillingham; three step-sisters, Marie Ferrara, Clara Riviello and Ida Lepore; and one step-brother, John Marinaro.

He is survived by one sister, Josephine (‘DeDe’) (Maraviglia) Tria of South Brunswick, N.J., and a brother, Philip Maraviglia of Little Egg Harbor, N.J.

His extended family includes many loving, loyal and successful nieces and nephews. He was always proud that his family represented the best of an Italian-American heritage.

He will be remembered for his keen intellect, quick acerbic wit and quirky personality. As his Barringer High School yearbook described him:

“T. Maraviglia has such a low voice, In class we can’t hear if he’s right or wrong; But amongst his friends he makes some noise, this oddest of all odd boys!”

The funeral was held Wednesday at the S.W. Brown and Son Funeral Home, (www.swbrownandson.com), 267 Centre St., Nutley.

Interment followed at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Montclair.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Theodore C. Maraviglia Chemistry Scholarship, Rutgers University, Rutgers University Foundation, 7 College Ave., Winants Hall, New Brunswick, NJ. 08901-1261; and Common Cause of Pennsylvania, 300 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, PA 17101-1303.