Morristown Councilman Anthony Cattano Jr. has died

michelle harris-king and anthony cattano jr
Morristown Councilwoman Michelle Harris-King holds Bible as Anthony Cattano Jr. is sworn in as council president, for the 10th year, by his count. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Morristown Councilman Anthony Cattano Jr. lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday night.

“He was a fantastic person, very caring and giving of himself,” said Council President Michelle Dupree Harris, who bought a wedding ring from Tony 26 years ago when he ran Cattano Jewelers at the corner of Washington Street and Cattano Avenue, which was named for his father, a former mayor.

First elected to the council in 1992, Tony’s illness prevented him from attending meetings this year; occasionally he participated by phone.

He was a fixture in Morristown’s youth baseball.  The ballfield A dugout at Burnham Park is named for him. He also had coached basketball at St. Margaret’s Church.

Tony passed away at a hospice affiliated with the St. Clare’s Health System in Dover. Michelle had visited him there last week.

“It was heart-wrenching to see him in that condition,” she said. They discussed council issues. “He said he missed the town council. He said he wanted to come back, and he missed us.”

As a council colleague, Tony Cattano was “very cooperative and compassionate. He was a team player,” Michelle said.

We will post funeral arrangements when they become available.

michelle harris-king and anthony cattano jr
Morristown Councilwoman Michelle Dupree Harris holds Bible as Anthony Cattano Jr. is sworn in as council president in Jan. 2011. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

 

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