Marie Emily Grompone

Marie Emily Grompone, December 17, 1940 - December 26, 2024

Marie Emily Grompone, lovingly known as Emily, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at the age of 84. She was born on December 17, 1940, to Giuseppe Grompone and Helena Angela Errico Grompone. Emily grew up with three beloved sisters, Phyllis, Joanne, and Helen. She is survived by her sister Helen Ermalinda Paglinawan and her devoted nephew, Joseph Errico Grompone Paglinawan.

Emily led a remarkable life, filled with passion, talent, and adventure. She was a graduate of St. Aloysius and Dickenson High School. She graduated from New Jersey State College and initially worked at Western Electric before she became an art teacher for the Newark, NJ Board of Education for 30 years. She dedicated her career to education, inspiring countless students through her creativity and dedication. Outside the classroom, Emily was a celebrated athlete, an amazing aunt and a world traveler who embraced life with enthusiasm and grace.

Her fencing career was nothing short of extraordinary. Emily was an outstanding member of four women’s fencing teams under Coach Tom Gerrity. She captured the New Jersey State Championship in 1966 and achieved a sixth-place finish in the national intercollegiate meet that same year. Her talent and determination propelled her to international acclaim when she earned a gold medal as part of the Pan American team in 1971. That same year, she placed fourth in the nationals and competed in the world championships in Vienna, Austria. Emily returned to the world stage in 1973 in Gotesburg, Sweden.

Emily continued to dominate the sport, winning the New Jersey individual championship in 1975 and the Mid-Atlantic individual championship title in 1976. Her skill extended internationally, where she was a three-time finalist in Canada’s Man and His World tournament. Beyond her personal achievements, Emily shared her expertise as the coach of the Jersey City State College women’s fencing team in 1971 and from 1973 to 1978. Her 1978 team won the New Jersey National Intercollegiate Women’s Fencing Association Championship and earned national recognition. In 1980,

Emily was inducted into Jersey City's Team Hall of Fame for Fencing, a testament to her lasting impact on the sport. More about her achievements can be found at: https://njcugothicknights.com/honors/hall-of-fame/emily-grompone/14.

Emily’s legacy is one of excellence, perseverance, and generosity. She was an extraordinary daughter, sister, and aunt, whose warmth and kindness touched everyone she met. Her memory will be cherished by her family, friends, students, and the countless lives she influenced through her teaching and athleticism.

Funeral will be held of Saturday, January 11, 2024, with a visitation from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Riotto Funeral Home & Cremation Company, 3205 John F. Kennedy Blvd , Jersey City, NJ 07306 (For GPS navigation it is best to use our parking lot address: 14 Stagg Street, Jersey City). Funeral mass will follow, 11:00 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church, 691 West Side Ave., Jersey City, NJ, 07306. Entombment at Holy Name Mausoleum, 823 West Side Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Emily’s honor to Alzheimer's New Jersey: https://www.alznj.org/get-involved/donate/, supporting the research for a cure.

Rest in peace, Emily. Your light and spirit will live on forever in our hearts.