We welcome friends and family to submit your fondest thoughts and memories of Nick, or your condolences to his family, so that we might add them to a list of tributes to share with all who visit our web site. To do so, simply complete a Memorial Tribute form and submit it to us. We will post your tribute as soon as possible.

Sunday, October 17, 2004

For the Family:

My wife "Ronnie" joins me in offering sincere condolences to each of you with the passing of Nick, a friend and colleague from years ago.

I first met Nick when I joined the Phillipsburg Police Department in 1956. He preceded me on the force by a little more than a year (January 1955) and was one of those who helped guide me as a "rookie" by filling me in on the things a cop does that are not found in police manuals, like which was the best diner in town to grab a sandwich, which of the local town-drunks gave us the most trouble, how to try to get out of being assigned to Union Square traffic duty and working the Catholic Church corner on those cold/windy Sunday mornings, and, how to generally get along with the towns-folk. His words of wisdom were quite helpful to me through the four years we worked together until he resigned.

Nick always maintained an excellent disposition throughout. He conducted himself with utmost perfection when dealing with the incorrigible element and when associating with citizens, not only in the line of official duty but just being their friend when their paths crossed. He was not a "book-cop", nor was I. We looked upon our manuals merely as a guide toward being certain an offender was treated as a human being. Most everyone runs afoul of the law. It's just that some don't get caught. In minor infractions of the law, especially exceeding the speed limit "a little bit", sometimes we sensed that a stern talking-to or a written warning did more to reach our goal than to issue a costly ticket.

When we worked together responding to critical criminal situations, we never knew if by being together prevented a tragedy or not. One never knows when an offender is going to pull a gun or knife in his quest to escape. Nick and I had a good working relationship whereby we kept an eye on each other, most of the time planning our strategy before getting out of the patrol car at the scene. Our demeanor at a scene silently warned troublemakers not to get too frisky.

Looking back to our time on the force tells me that Nick was among the best of our policemen, akin to the fabulous Sgt. Howard Dunfee who was my superior officer mentor from the start. All the young officers learned from Dunfee, including Nick.

Finally, the last time I saw Nick was when he came to the grand opening ceremonies at "Jimmy's On The Delaware" hot dog stand in Union Square on June 27, 2004. I was one of the speakers that day and Nick and Rose, approached me. I didn't know him immediately since he was sporting a mustache, his hair white and widely parted in the middle. Focusing in for a second, he laughed and told me his name. I wasn't embarrassed that I didn't recognize him because that's been happening to me right along at almost 73. But what a delightful and grand reunion it was to meet my old friend after all these years, briefly recalling those times when our minds and body parts were all in place. His smile was the same and so was he. I just wish we had followed through to get together for a more detailed recollection of our days as "Toody" and "Muldoon" (Car 54, Where Are you? TV series), but now, I shall content myself in having the memory of our last meeting together affixed in my memory bank. I shall miss him.

In Peace...

Ron Wynkoop, Sr.
Friend & Comrade


Patrolman, Nick Pugliese
1960 Photo


Ron Wynkoop, Sr. & Nick Pugliese
Jimmy's on the Delaware Grand Opening
June 27, 2004

Monday, October 18, 2004

He was not only a fine policeman and family insurance agent but a friend you can count on for advice.

Benjamin J Scheetz
cvaloppi@hotmail.com

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Uncle Nick, you will be deeply missed by me. You were like a second father to me. I have so many fond memories of you that at this time I am at a lost for words right now. Your brother Tony (my father) and your sisters are waiting for you with open arms. When you see my father I want you two to sing, "When My Eyes Use to Shine"..... I will be listening.

I love you Uncle Nick. God Bless You.

Your nephew, Nick D. Pugliese
pugliend@airproducts.com

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Rose, please accept my sincere condolences.

Betty Donovan
b.don2@verizon.net

Monday, November 11, 2004

When my grandfather, Nick's brother, passed away in 1995, I was heart broken because I had only 16 years with him. There was so much more I needed to learn about the Pugliese family along with building more lasting memories. With this, Uncle Nick filled the void of losing a grandparent and became my "Step-Grandfather." He did everything from lecture me about my grades to give me marriage and life lessons. Many of which I carry into my everyday life. When I saw Uncle Nick in July at our annual Pugliese family reunion, he told me to save a dance for him at my wedding, and then he proceeded to glance down at Karsten and say If it ever happens. A typical Uncle Nick move, but none the less, it was his way of giving us his approval. Even though I will not have the opportunity to have that dance with Uncle Nick, in my mind I know he is up in heaven dancing, laughing, drinking with his brothers and sisters, looking down at all of us, knowing how much they impacted our lives and how they filled our hearts with love.

I miss you Uncle Nick. God Bless.

lpugliese@jos-a-bank.com
Lauren Pugliese

Sunday, November 7, 2004

Pop,
You were a great dad. The five of us are proud to call you our dad. We didn't always agree on things, but we all could talk baseball about our beloved Yankees. How many trips we took to the Bronx, to the NJ shore and to Italy. How many life lessons you taught us. The Lord has a new angel. Pop I will miss you but will see you again some day.

Love,
Your Son,
Jeff
mrandmrsjpuge@cs.com