Obituary of Guido DiTorrice

Guido “Geets” DiTorrice, 90, of North Brunswick, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 27, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Ferentino, Italy, Mr. DiTorrice came to the United States with his family in 1947. He was raised in Maplewood and attended Columbia High School and then Carteret Preparatory School where he played football and baseball.  He continued his education at East Stroudsburg State College where he also played football and baseball and earned his degree in Physical Education.  While there he met Kathleen Focht. They were married in 1959 and settled in North Brunswick Township after Mr. DiTorrice completed his time serving in the U.S. Army from 1957 until 1959. He was later inducted to the East Stroudsburg College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Respectfully known as “Mr. D.”, he taught and coached in the North Brunswick School District for over 37 years. He was the only physical education teacher in the district for his first three years of teaching allowing him to teach in every school in the district. He then spent many years at the Linwood Middle School before transferring and finishing his career at North Brunswick Township High School.  A beloved and respected coach, Mr. D. was the defensive coordinator for varsity football and the head coach of the varsity baseball team. Upon his retirement, the school district honored Mr. DiTorrice for his years of dedicated service by naming the varsity baseball field, The Guido DiTorrice Field. He was later inducted into the North Brunswick Township High School Hall of Fame.

Devoted to children, education, and athletics, Mr. DiTorrice was also an integral part of the development of the North Brunswick Township Recreation Programs.  He developed and organized evening and weekend athletic programs, “Friday Night Rec” and created the largest fastpitch recreation softball league in the state at that time. During his summers off from teaching Mr. DiTorrice enjoyed doing masonry work with his good friend Tony Previte as well as tending to his garden, and doing projects around his and his children’s homes.

Devout in his faith, Mr. DiTorrice was a longtime member of St. Mary of Mount Virgin R.C. Church in New Brunswick.  Over the years he was seen in the stands and on the fields watching his children and grandchildren compete in various sports. He will be remembered for his humble, soft-spoken way, and his strong yet quiet presence. Above all else, Mr. DiTorrice was a devoted husband, and a proud and loving father and grandfather.

Predeceased by his parents, Gaetano and Emilia DiTorrice and his siblings, Enrico, Franca and Alex; he is survived by his wife of 64 years, Kathleen J. (Focht) DiTorrice; his children, Joseph L. DiTorrice and Maria T. Puleio; his grandchildren, Guido J. DiTorrice, Joseph L. DiTorrice, II, Anthony J. DiTorrice, Nicholas J. Puleio, III and Gabriella K. Puleio; and his many nieces and nephews.

Private services were held under the direction of Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Services at Glackin Chapel, Hightstown, NJ.

For those desiring, contributions may be made in Mr. DiTorrice’s memory to C.H.O.P. (The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia), The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research, or Tunnels to Towers Foundation by visiting In Memory Of at inmemof.org.