Frank Paolo Carchia of Budd Lake, N.J., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, at the Overlook Medical Center, Summit, N.J. He was 49.
Born in Newton, N.J., Frank grew up in Andover Borough and lived in Newton before moving recently to Budd Lake.
Frank graduated summa cum laude from Centenary College in Hackettstown in 1996 with a degree in English. Mr. Carchia was certified to teach both Spanish and English. Following his passion for teaching, he enjoyed his career as a Spanish teacher at and both Fredon and Stillwater Township Middle Schools and had also formerly taught at Pope John XXIII Regional High School. Frank was a remarkable educator, with a unique ability to connect with his students. He would always take the time to assist students and ease parents’ concerns. He was loved and admired by his students and colleagues.
Frank loved and cherished his family above all else ensuring his mother, siblings, nieces and nephews were taken care of, always taking time to teach or tutor his nieces and nephews if needed. He possessed an insatiable passion for life and knowledge with an ability to speak, read, and write four languages. An accomplished writer, artist, poet, and photographer, he also loved creating puzzles and word games. Mr. Carchia’s ingenious work was published in Games Magazine on numerous occasions. The only thing more impressive than his incredible intellect was his ability to create an environment filled with love, optimism, comfort, and joy. Frank’s uplifting spirit posi-tively affected anyone he crossed paths with.
An experienced traveler, he enjoyed new adventures like his trip to Spain and most recently taking a cross country trip in 2019. He was a talented cook who loved preparing meals, especially his signature pizza dish, for his family and friends. Frank was predeceased in life by his father Francesco Paolo Carchia in 1992 and a nephew Joseph Michael Carchia in 1997.
Survivors include his mother, Maria Immaculata (nee Gambardella) Carchia of Budd Lake; brothers Otto, Umberto, Luigi, Antony Andrew and Raffaele Girolamo Carchia; sisters, Carmela Carchia Baron and Francesca Paola Carchia Daly; nieces, Stephanie Baron, Elizabeth Baron, Alyssa Carchia, Maria Carchia, Alexa Maria A. Carchia, Gabriella Michelle Carchia, Caitlin Rose Daly, Gianna Marie Carchia, Natalie Francesca Carchia and Emma Carchia; and nephews, Francesco Giuseppe Carchia and Sean Michael Daly.
A funeral Mass of Christian Burial was held Jan. 13 in the Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Newton. Arrangements were made by Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home, Newton.