Rest in Peace, Fr. Jim Cerbone

By Fr. Mike Mendl, SDB

(New Rochelle, NY – January 3) – Fr. James Lee Cerbone, Jr., SDB, passed away on the night of December 19 at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, N.J. He had been ill for a long time, staying at several nursing care facilities in Bergen County from 2018 until hospitalized on December 15, suffering from severe anemia. Further testing discovered cancer metastasized in the bones, and palliative care began on the 18th.

Fr. Jim had been a member of the Salesian community of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., since 2009.

He was a professed Salesian for 51 years and a priest for 43 years.

Jim Cerbone, son of James Lee Cerbone, Sr., and Thomasina Spadafor Cerbone, was born in Newark on April 20, 1949. He was baptized at St. Anthony Church in nearby Belleville a few weeks later. The Cerbones owned and ran a pizzeria, which is probably why Fr. Jim loved pizza so much all his life.

Jim completed high school at C.J. Scott High School in East Orange in 1967 and went to Don Bosco College in Newton as a Son of Mary in September 1967. Two years later he entered the novitiate there; Fr. Peter Granzotto was novice master. Bro. Jim made his first profession on September 1, 1970, at Newton.

Bro. Jim graduated from Don Bosco College in 1972 with a B.A. in philosophy and minors in history and classics. He left the Salesians that year and entered Immaculate Conception Seminary of the Newark Archdiocese. He returned to the Salesians in 1973, made temporary vows again in 1974, was assigned to Don Bosco Prep, and professed perpetually on August 27, 1977.

Bro. Jim did his practical training at Ramsey from 1973 to 1975 and another year at Salesian High in New Rochelle in 1975-1976. He taught history, theology, and English. He was a moderator for the Key Club and drama, culture, and outdoors clubs at different times.

Bro. Jim completed theological studies at the Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, while living with the Salesian community in Columbus from 1976 to 1979. In 1979-1980 as a deacon he was assigned to Don Bosco College and taught theology. He earned a Masters in Divinity at the Josephinum in 1980. Later he studied accounting at Notre Dame, earning an MSA in 1983, followed by a Masters in Religious Education from St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers in 1990.

Fr. Jim was ordained in his home parish of Our Lady of All Souls in East Orange on October 4, 1980, by Newark’s Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Francis, SVD.

Fr. Jim then followed a varied priestly ministry. He taught for one year at Salesian in New Rochelle (1980-1981) and for one year at Don Bosco Prep (1983-1984). He was treasurer at the Marian Shrine in Haverstraw for two years (1981-1983). In 1984 he began a seven-year stint at the provincial house in New Rochelle as an assistant in the treasurer’s office. After another three years teaching at Don Bosco Prep (1991-1994), he experienced parish life as assistant pastor at Mary Help of Christians on 12th Street (1994-1995). He took a leave of absence from the Salesians in 1995-1998, serving as assistant pastor at Holy Trinity Church in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. There he introduced some parishioners to the Salesian Cooperators, including Denise and Rob Dunn, who testify to Fr. Jim’s legacy in the parish; he introduced living Stations of the Cross done by the parish youths, which continues to today. He also led an adult discussion group that was much appreciated but has not continued.

Fr. Jim’s happiest years may have been the nine years when he was chaplain for campus ministry and social action at Manhattan College in the Bronx, 1998-2007. During those years he resided at the provincial house. Years later he retained very fond memories of that time, especially the many trips to different parts of the world he took with the college students. On behalf of the La Salle Christian Brothers, Bro. Daniel Gardner wrote: “Please accept my sympathy and prayers as you mourn the loss of Fr Jim. I remember him well. We have advertised his death on social media. I'm sure that many alumni and staff will mourn him. We will remember him fondly at Mass in the Brothers community.”

Late in 2006 the Salesian provincial notified the Christian Brothers at Manhattan that Fr. Jim would have to return to ministry in a Salesian presence at the end of the school year. Both Fr. Jim and the college were quite satisfied with his ministry there. The provincial noted that “Jim’s Salesian background seems to have been a good fit with the principles of Lasallian education practiced at Manhattan College,” in keeping with Don Bosco’s admiration for St. John Baptist de La Salle.

Leaving Manhattan was difficult for Fr. Jim, it seems. He took another leave of absence, ministering at St. James of the Marches Church in Totowa, N.J., from 2007 to 2009. Then he joined the Don Bosco Prep community, teaching a little bit and doing campus ministry until health issues made that no longer possible and eventually required his admission to New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus. Bro. Travis Gunther recalls bringing Holy Communion at the nursing home: “In these last two years getting to bring him Communion was a beautiful experience. For those brief few moments of prayer, reception and silence afterward, it was like the world was on pause for a moment.”

Fr. Jim is survived by his sisters Susan Cerbone of Rutherford, N.J., and Gloria Malecki of Bloomfield, N.J., and his nephew, Richard Malecki, all of whom he was very close to.

Fr. Jim’s funeral was celebrated in the Sacred Heart Chapel at Don Bosco Prep on Tuesday, Dec. 26. Fr. Dominic Tran presided, and Fr. John Serio preached. His body was brought the same day for interment at the mausoleum of Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, N.J.