Honorable James George Troiano

Honorable James George Troiano, J.S.C. (Retired)  

The Honorable James George Troiano, J.S.C. (Retired), 71, of Brielle, passed away on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at Ocean County Medical Center, Brick.  Visitation will be at the Biondi Funeral Home of Nutley, 540 Franklin Avenue on Thursday, April 8 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  There will be a funeral mass celebrated at St. Lucy’s Church, 118 – 7th Avenue, Newark on Friday, April 9 at 10:45 a.m.  The entombment will be at Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington.

Judge Troiano was born on September 6, 1949 in Newark, New Jersey to James and Marie Troiano.  He grew up along with his parents and older siblings Anthony and Rae Ann first in the Ironbound section of Newark, and later in the North Ward of Newark. 

Judge Troiano attended high school at Seton Hall Prep and college at Rutgers University in Newark, where he was a fraternity member of Zeta Upsilon Sigma.  After college, he travelled to Birmingham, Alabama where he received his law degree from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in 1975.  While in Alabama, he taught college courses at Jacksonville State University.   

Upon his return from Alabama, Judge Troiano began his law career, ultimately opening his own law practice based in West Orange.  He kept a general practice of law, handling many matters including criminal, civil, and real estate. 

Judge Troiano became an active member of the Republican Party in Essex County, launching bids in the early 1980s for Freeholder at large and then County Executive. 

In 1978, he met his wife Deborah, and the two would marry on March 30, 1979 and remain married for 42 years until the Judge’s passing. 

In 1984, the Judge and his family moved to Cedar Grove where they would call home for the next 20 years.  As a Cedar Grove resident, Judge Troiano was an active member of the community as both a volunteer and in local politics. 

He was a coach for his son Matthew throughout his childhood.  He was also a member of the UNICO and the Moose Lodge.  From 1987 to 1992, Judge Troiano served as a Councilman, Deputy Mayor and later Mayor of Cedar Grove. 

On November 13, 1992, Judge Troiano was sworn in as a Judge of the Superior Court, where he would serve for close to 27 years until his retirement in July 2019. 

Throughout his judicial career, Judge Troiano served in Essex County, Hudson County, and Monmouth County.  The majority of his career he presided over matters in Essex County.  As a Judge, he served in both the Criminal and Family Part, but spent most of his judicial career in the Family Part, primarily handling matrimonial-related matters, and juvenile matters.  It was during this assignment that Judge Troiano began his involvement in juvenile justice, which turned into his passion as a Judge.

As a Judge handling juvenile matters, he advocated for and pursued the development and implementation of programs and policies specific to the handling of juvenile matters.     

Judge Troiano retired in December 2012, but immediately began to serve as a recall Judge.  He remained in Essex County until 2016 when he transferred to Monmouth County.  While in Monmouth County he continued to handle juvenile matters until his retirement in July 2019. 

In 2015, Judge Troiano and his wife Deborah moved from Essex County to Brielle, New Jersey, where they found happiness as Jersey Shore residents.  Within miles of the beach, he and Deborah were fixtures at the beach in Belmar.  Their home in Brielle also became a summer gathering location for the Judge’s children and grandchildren, where they would spend almost every summer weekend together.  Judge Troiano and Deborah would also travel frequently, most often to their home away from home in Aruba, where they and their family would travel every year, sometimes multiple times a year, since 1999.      

In addition to his 42-year marriage to his wife Deborah, Judge Troiano loved his four children, John, Jodi, Matthew and Alexandra, and their spouses Jim, Alyssa and James. Most importantly, he loved his grandkids, who simply adored him. James, Jake, Jianna, Ava and Luca would be with him constantly, either at the beach or walking on the boardwalk, in the play room or basement of their home, or at any number of family gatherings. 

Since September 2020, Judge Troiano and Deborah also spent every week with his son Matthew and his family, taking over the role of teacher/sitter/daycare for their granddaughter Ava, and assisting her through her virtual learning.  Judge Troiano was also anxiously awaiting the arrival of his newest grandson, Alexander James George Kreiss, who is scheduled to arrive in June 2021.

Judge Troiano loved sports, and was a fanatic for Yankee baseball.  He was also a lover of movies and music.  He was a ferocious reader, at times going through a book a week.  He loved history and discussing the importance of historical events.  He was a trivia buff and seemed to know information totally unknown to many others.   

Judge Troiano lived a good, honorable, and successful life.  He cherished his close relationships with family, friends and colleagues, and the bonds he formed with so many throughout his personal and professional life.  He will be missed forever and never forgotten. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, www.stjude.org.

Due to COVID-19 Pandemic and occupancy limitations, visitors are asked to pay their respects and then immediately exit in order to allow others the opportunity to enter the building. Visitors are also required to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Honorable James George Troiano, please visit our floral store.