June J. Vingiello

June Jennifer  Vingiello  passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on October 6, 2024 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA.  She was surrounded by family.

June  was born in Bayonne, New Jersey on August 7, 1932.  Her father, Aaron "Harry" Israels, was born in Manhattan while June's mother, Edith Hoffinger, was born in Vienna.  June was the second of three daughters.  

June's family moved to The Bronx when she was 3.  Later, at James Monroe High School, June  enjoyed participating in musical theater productions.   She was a very bright student and graduated early.  June then enrolled at Hunter College in Manhattan, renowned for its teacher-training program.  Like many colleges at the time, Hunter did not offer a major in teaching, so June graduated with a BA in psychology.

While still a student, June met the love of her life, Richard ("Rich") Vingiello, completely by chance in mid-town Manhattan on July 1, 1950.  They were married in July 1952 and remained in NYC.  June worked part-time as a bookkeeper in the bookstore at Union Theological Seminary while Richard completed his law degree and became a member of the New York State Bar.  Their first two children were born while they were living in Queens.

In 1966, June's world was turned upside down when Richard decided to move his family to Tuxedo Park, NY and his law practice to West Haverstraw, NY.  Less than 2 months after the move their third child was born, to be followed by two more babies in fewer than 5 years.  During that crazy introduction to "country life", June also had to take on a dog and a cat (the latter necessary to keep mice out of the house), snow deeper than she had ever witnessed, and learning how to drive (as the new house was almost 2 miles from the nearest shop and there was no public transportation.)

Although June did not work long as a teacher, she taught her whole life.  She taught through her example.  June also fed people, literally and figuratively.  She gave her husband and children, and many of her children's friends, unconditional love and support.  June was the original "health food nut".  She checked the ingredients on labels, reduced the sugar in recipes, made sure everyone ate plenty of fruit and vegetables and sprinkled wheat germ into almost everything.  June was always experimenting with different foreign cuisines and soon became a better Italian cook than her Italian mother-in-law (said her Italian husband!)  

As her children grew up and their lives took them to different parts of the country or the world, June did not think twice about jumping on a plane to support them when necessary.  She was there to help through illnesses or the arrival of babies.  June was also fearless (although she might have denied this):  from when she was already into her 40's, June tried skiing, pony-trekking on Dartmoor and travelling abroad on her own.

As the saying goes, "Behind every great man is an even greater woman..."  Richard was definitely a great man and June was an even greater woman.  June switched to part-time college study so that Richard could attend law school.  While scared out of her wits to move from the safety of the familiar in New York City, June moved to Tuxedo Park and quietly got on with the business of settling children into a new school and finding her place in completely new surroundings.  When their children were old enough, June went back to work as Richard's legal secretary and bookkeeper.  She considered re-training as a paralegal but then decided there wasn't much they could teach her because she was doing the job already!  Although naturally more shy than her outgoing husband, June hosted numerous cocktail parties when Richard was involved in local politics.  

In 2010, after Richard had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, June orchestrated, after a fair amount of resistance by Richard, the closure of his law practice, the sale of their beloved family home in Tuxedo and their move to Brooksby Village in Peabody, MA.   It was a tough change, but they quickly  made fabulous new friends and seized opportunities to  join the gym, go on organized trips, sing in the community choir (June), debate current events weekly, and engage in the  Italian-American club.  They were surrounded by love and support, just when they needed it most.  For over 15 years, and nearly to the end of her own life, June cared for Richard lovingly and uncomplainingly  through his battle with Alzheimer's.

June  Vingiello will be remembered best for her limitless love of and care for her family, for her boundless strength, for her wisdom, and for her superlative cooking.  Her legacy is that she lives on in her five children.

June is survived by her children Denise, Adrienne, Andrew, Michael and Rachel, her grandchildren Matthew, Katie, Isabella, Jacob, Joe, Maddie and Genevieve, her sons-in-law Bill and Andy, her daughter-in-law Brenda, and her  many nieces and nephews and all of their children and grandchildren.  June's beloved husband Richard, and both of her sisters, Estelle and Dolores, pre-deceased her.

A private Memorial Service will be held later in the year.

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