Vincent Policano, a longtime North Arlington, New Jersey, resident and former baseball coach and referee, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at the age of 91.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, to parents Joseph and Madeline Policano, Vincent ‘Vinnie Pop’ Policano began his athletic journey from a very young age.
He attended Boys High School in Brooklyn, NY, where he played multiple sports.
Although Vincent Policano didn’t play professionally, his passion and love for sports made him a remarkable coach and referee.
For decades, Vinnie coached a Little League team in Kearny, New Jersey.
After retiring from his coaching career, Vincent umpired numerous baseball and softball games, as well as serving as a referee for high school football games.
His obituary page described Vincent Policano as a mentor and role model to generations of Kearny athletes, and a true pillar of the community.
Even after retiring at 52, Vinnie continued to remain active. He ran the New York City Marathon four times.
In addition to his sports journey, Vincent Policano worked with the American Can Company in Jersey City for decades.
He also worked for the New York City Department of Sanitation until his retirement.
Furthermore, the death of Vincent Policano has left a profound void in the lives of his family, friends, and loved ones.
Many of his loved ones are paying tribute to the late Vincent and extending their heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time.
Vincent Policano is Survived By His Wife, Theresa, Four Sons, and The Whole Family
Vincent ‘Vinnie Pop’ Policano was a devoted husband to his longtime wife, Theresa Forte Policano.
The couple tied the knot in 1957 and were happily married for 70 years, raising four successful sons, John, Vincent, Thomas, and Joseph, in Kearny, New Jersey.
His son, John Policano, took to his social media to pay tribute to his late father, Vincent Policano, and wrote:
“We are blessed and grateful to have had him in all our lives for so many years. Although we are saddened by his passing, we find joy and celebrate his life knowing the enormous impact he had not only on our family but with everyone he came in contact with as a friend, mentor, coach, referee, co-worker, and umpire.”
John Policano
Vincent’s son, John Policano, is an artist manager at JpJammin’ and lives in North Arlington, New Jersey.
He previously worked at Hippie Shop and graduated from New Jersey City University and Kearny High School.
John also followed in his father’s footsteps in sports and played football at high school and college.
While very little information is available about his other two sons, Joseph and Thomas, as they prefer to maintain a low profile, Vincent’s son, Vincent Jr., has worked as a Senior Claims Adjuster at Farmers Insurance since 2004.
Vincent Jr. graduated from Jersey City State with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing in 1990.
In addition to his wife and sons, Vincent Policano is survived by his daughter-in-laws, Nancy McNamara and Yvette Viteri, his grandchildren, Anthony, Carly, Nicholas, and John, his great-granddaughter, Gabriela, and his siblings, Albert Policano and Rose Filippone.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Visitation will be held at Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home at 10 am on Friday, September 5, 2025.
- The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church in Kearny, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Dementia Society of America.
