Nicoló Maltese, age 88 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, entered peacefully into eternal rest on Friday, December 28, 2018, at his home.

“Honey,” “Papa,” “Uncle Nick,” Nicola was born on November 23, 1930 in Cinisi, Sicily, son of the late Filippo and Margherita Mannino Maltese.

Coming to the United States in 1949, the trip was dangerous and took thirty-one days. He boarded a merchant marine ship named “Maria Bibolini” in Venice and made his way to Baltimore, MD with his only possession being a single pair of pants. Not a penny to his name.

Soon after his ship docked in Baltimore, he took a train to Brooklyn, NY, where he moved in with his maternal grandmother, Maria Stella Mannino.

His teenage years in Italy were spent working as a suit maker in Palermo. He made many suits by hand for the legendary Italian actor Rossano Brazzi, as well as many others in the Italian fashion industry. This served him well in New York City where he worked as a tailor in the garment district.

On his very few days off, he put himself through cosmetology school, earning his license. With family spreading out, he settled in Raritan Borough, NJ. He became the “Edward Scissorhands” of Arnold Avenue in Raritan. He also worked at a beauty shop in Elizabeth, NJ.

His heart and strong work ethic allowed him to be successful in everything he involved himself with. One such success came by watching the “Pizza Pros” at Ray’s Pizza in New York City. It ignited a passion in Nick, and in 1968 the first Nicola’s Pizza opened in Lambertville, NJ. This began his legacy as not only a successful entrepreneur, but also as a mentor and rock of stability for the masses.

His many restaurants and other endeavors included “Nicola’s Pizza” located in Lambertville, Branchburg, Somerset, Califon and North Plainfield, NJ; Mr. Nick’s Pizza, New Providence, NJ; Nicola’s Pizza Aroma, Easton, PA; Neighbors Pizza, Flemington, NJ; Nicola’s Pizza Shoppe, New Hope, PA; Café Europa, New Hope, PA; Restaurant Maltese, New Hope, PA; Venice Tile & Furniture, Flemington, NJ; and Nicolas Brickhouse Pizza, Branchburg, NJ. He also constructed Neighbors Plaza retail shopping center in Califon, New Jersey.

Nick’s passion was contagious and no customer was ever refused; nights, holidays, etc. Nick, his wife Stella, his family and team were the one’s you could count on. That work ethic, simple in principal and hard in practice, is one from which Nick never strayed.

Food service was a passion, but Nick was a man of many talents; from a tailor to a mason to a carpenter, his late son-in-law, Joseph Torina, referred to his father-in-law as, “Nick the Engineer!”

His role of family patriarch was only surpassed by his role as husband. Seeing his future wife, Stella singing ‘O Sole Mio when she was in kindergarten, he watched her sing and the connection was instantaneous. The two were each other’s first and only love. They were the other’s guardian angel and Stella referred to her, “Honey” as her heart and soul. Married at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church on June 4, 1955, they held a wedding reception at the American Legion in Flemington, NJ. As they aged and medical issues plagued them both, they still managed to stay by each other’s side no matter the circumstances. Their love and devotion to one another was, is and always will be an inspiration to many.

Humble in all he did, Nick was there for not only his family, but absolutely anyone. He enjoyed helping people which earned him the nicknames of “Honey,” “Papa,” and “Uncle Nick” among others, all being terms of endearment.

He enjoyed horse racing, casinos (especially playing roulette and poker), Bocce, the beach, cars, and playing the stock market. In fact, he learned English by reading the Wall Street Journal and Barron’s, which was supplemented by night school in between all his many and varied jobs.

In addition to all of his endeavors, he even made a cameo appearance in, “The Color of Money!” His family thinks it was due to his signature hair style.

From one pair of trousers, no money and not speaking English, Nick truly lived the, “American Dream” and helped many others along their journey. He loved America, was proud of his hard work and encouraged others to never give up. He was a mentor without trying and commanded respect without ever knowing or being dictatorial about it.

A faithful communicant of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Lambertville, NJ and St. Magdalen Church, Flemington, NJ, despite his illness over the past several years, Nick never let fear enter his heart. He would want all those reading this to be comforted by the promises of the resurrection and the reuniting together of us all in heaven.

Cardinal John Henry Newman once wrote, “May He support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done! Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last.” Nick, you have remained faithful and truly served your fellow man. May you rest with the angels and let your good works continue to shine through all those whom you have inspired through your time here on Earth.

Surviving are his wife, Stella Mannino Maltese; his children, Margarita Torina, Philip Maltese, Joanne Braun and her husband, David, and Salvatore and his wife, Wendy Maltese; his grandchildren, Frank and his wife, Margaret Torina, Antonia and her husband, David Hudson, Nicolo Torina, Joseph Torina, Alex Maltese, Stella Maltese, Natalie and her husband, Carl Baus, Ricky Braun, Marco Maltese, Nicolo Maltese, Philip Hackney and wife Anna, and Jenna Maltese; great granddaughter, Santina Hudson; his siblings, Santina Palazzolo, Nino and his wife, Josephine Maltese, Pietro and his wife, Rose Maltese, Salvatore and his wife, Fara Maltese, Stella and her husband, Gianni Farina, Antoinette O’Connor, Josephine Leone, and Frankie Maltese; his sister-in-law, Connie Mannino Soriero and brother-in-law, Fred Mannino; numerous extended family around the world; his many customers over the years who became family; and many, many cherished friends.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the caregivers who have assisted Nick and his family over the past several years; the kindnesses showed will never be forgotten.

Nicoló will lie in repose on Thursday, January 3, 2019 from 5:00-9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ, where family and friends are invited to help share in his legacy.

A Mass of Christian Burial at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 44 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530, will be celebrated on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 10:30 a.m.; everyone is kindly requested to meet directly at the church on Friday morning beginning at 10:15 a.m. There is a large parking lot adjacent to the Church and the building is handicapped accessible.

Following Mass, the funeral cortege will pass by “Nicola’s Pizza,” the oldest Italian restaurant and pizzeria in Lambertville, originally owned and operated by Nick, and which has been passed on through the family for generations.

Committal prayers and entombment at St. Magdalen Mausoleum, North Main Street, Flemington, NJ, will follow and all are welcome to attend.

Please visit Nicoló’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com where one can light a candle and leave a message of condolence and words of comfort, as well as share stories and photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his honor may be made to the Flemington-Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 686, Flemington, NJ 08822 or to the “Friends of Historic Flemington,” P.O. Box 289, Flemington, NJ 08822 or online by clicking HERE.