Ernest Federici, MD
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and physician, Dr. Ernest Edwin Federici of Westfield, N.J., died on Friday, August 2, at home. His devoted wife, Roberta (known as Mitzi), was at his bedside. He faced his last couple of years — challenged by the aging process — with humility and grace, revealing his kind and grateful heart to the very end.
He was known as “Ernie” to his friends, “Dr. Federici” to his colleagues, and “Papa” to his grandchildren. Ernie was born and raised in northern New Jersey. He was a first-generation Italian-American. His parents, Paul and Camilla Federici, were both born in Italy and emigrated to the United States as children. He greatly admired his parents for their hard work, humility and faithfulness. Ernie had two brothers who predeceased him, Paul and Dominick.
His Catholic faith was a constant in his life. As a boy, he was taught by the sisters at St. Mary’s elementary and he was an altar boy. In his youth, Ernie worked in his father’s ice cream parlor. He attended Seton Hall Prep, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Georgetown University, where he also earned his medical degree. He met Mitzi on a blind date when she was a college student at Trinity in Washington, D.C., and they married in 1956.
After earning his medical degree, Ernie and Mitzi moved around as he continued his medical training — living in Washington, D.C., Iowa and Boston before settling in New Jersey. He was the first cardiologist in Elizabeth, N.J., and built a successful practice with many cardiologists. He later joined Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital (now Trinitas). He held roles as chief of cardiology, chief of medicine and chief of staff. A dedicated educator, he was instrumental in starting a graduate medical education program for young physicians through Seton Hall. He continued as the program medical director for over two decades and was actively teaching medical residents.
Ernie was married to his loving spouse for 68 years. He was a patient, gentle, devoted father and grandfather. He modeled hard work and was a great listener and provided great comfort and advice. He enjoyed family retreats at Long Beach Island. His passions included captaining his boat, “The Hoya,” through calm waters and rough seas, mastering the game of golf, trumping in the game of bridge, and family game nights. Always a faithful and giving man, Ernie compassionately prayed and cared for the hungry, the sick, and his patients. He is survived by his wife, Mitzi, and his children and family, including: daughter Maryanne Federici Knutson (husband Tom, son David and son Sam with wife Rachael and their children Wesley and Emmett); son David Federici (wife Valerie, son Nicholas); son John Federici (wife Rose, son Michael with wife Liz and their children Dominic, Sebastian and Catherine); son Robert Federici (fiancée Veronica, daughter Allison Church with husband Jason and their daughter Annie, daughter Caroline Federici with husband Max Shanahan and daughter Kristen Federici); daughter Susan Federici Skinner (husband Steve Skinner, children Kyle with wife Meghan and their children Devun and Logan, and Kara Skinner Seals with husband Mike and their children Cain, Sydney, Sawyer and Sailor); and daughter Kathy Federici Greenwood (husband Alex and their children Julia, Hadley and Claire).
Friends may visit the family on Wednesday, August 7, from 3 to 7 p.m., at Dooley Colonial Home in Westfield. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, August 8, at 10 a.m., at the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Westfield. Inurnment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association (heart.org), 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231.
August 8, 2024
