Philip “Phil” P Jacovino Jr, 66, of Highland, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, November 17, 2020.
Phil’s journey started February 17, 1954 in the Bronx, NY when he was born to Philip (Felix) and Carmela Jacovino. He attended Our Lady of Refuge and graduated from Saint Helena High in 1972. Upon graduation, Phil served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1972-1974. He has been married to the love of his life, Doreen Jacovino, for 47 years. Together they had two beautiful twin girls, Janine and Danine, and began their wonderful family.
Phil was retired from UPS in the Bronx, and upon his move to Highland in 1994, worked at Toscani’s Deli. His greatest adventure was the last 25 years at one of his favorite places, Adams Fairacre Farms. While at Adams, he created friendships that would last a lifetime. Phil would help Adams and many other with organizing numerous fundraisers and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. His selfless acts were revered and admired by so many.
Phil’s generosity also spilled over into his everyday life. He took great pleasure in being at the grill, or in the kitchen making the most delicious Italian food, and plenty of it. Everyone who attended one of Phil’s barbecues ate until they couldn’t move, and then he served the next course. When he packed for family vacations, his food coolers outnumbered his suitcases 2 to 1.
Aside from Adams, cooking, and barbecuing, fishing and being with his family were his most precious times. Every year he spent a week with his entire family, kids and grandchildren, in Seaside Heights, NJ. Phil’s favorite day of every week was Sunday because the entire family would get together to enjoy his pasta and gravy, meatballs, sausage and brasciole. His family was his entire world. The love he had for them was incomparable.
Phil is survived by his wife, Doreen Jacovino (Highland), daughters and son-in-laws, Janine and Duane Dunham (Highland) and Danine and John Citta (Hopewell), his grandchildren, Brianna Dunham, Amanda Dunham, Duane Dunham Jr, John Citta III, and Ava Citta, his siblings, Rose and Binky Godel, Dora and Bobby Knox, and Joseph Jacovino, and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents Philip and Carmela Jacovino, and mother-in-law, Marilyn Guerreiri.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, November 21st 10am at St. Augustine’s RC Church, Highland. Burial with Military Honors was held at Lloyd Cemetery, Highland.