Richard L. Pinto

Richard Pinto, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on August 11, 2026, at the age of 87. Born November 18, 1938, on Staten Island, New York, he was a proud Cranford, New Jersey resident for nearly 60 years and a member of The Villages community in Florida.

Raised on Otis Avenue on Staten Island, Richard loved sharing stories of neighborhood adventures and keeping up with lifelong friends. He graduated from LaSalle Military Academy, attended Seton Hall University, and served in the U.S. Army as a radio operator stationed in Frankfurt, Germany.

In 1963, Richard married Joan, the love of his life. They spent several years in Germany before returning to the United States, first to Staten Island and then to Cranford, where they built a life rich in family, friendship, and community. Together, they raised four children and became familiar faces around town. Richard was active in the Cranford Jaycees and could often be found taking on his latest home project at his well-equipped basement workbench.

A natural entrepreneur with a sharp business mind, Richard enjoyed a varied and successful career. He was a partner in Kahn Brothers and Pinto, the New York City Fashion District furrier founded by his father, and Safari, a leather goods business. He later invested in New York City real estate and sponsored co-op conversions before becoming a well-known Cranford residential realtor. Along the way, he also managed to pursue a childhood dream to become a professional baseball-card and sports memorabilia collector and dealer.

Anyone who met Richard knew that he was a character. He loved cars and all manner of “big boy toys.” Over the years, the family garage was home to antique cars, motorized bikes, and motorcycles. He took special pride in his 1948 Lincoln Continental and his Packard, although many of the most re-told car stories involved overheated engines, broken carburetors, and calls to family members for a ride home. He was also an early adopter of new technologies, bringing home movie equipment and novel kitchen gadgets, and enthusiastically added a motorboat, lake house, and plenty of water toys to the family’s adventures. With Richard, life was never boring.

In retirement, Richard and Joan enjoyed European travel and cruises with family and friends. For the past 15 years, they spent time at their home in The Villages, Florida, reconnecting with longtime Cranford friends and welcoming many new ones.

Richard loved food—talking about it, cooking it, eating it, and, of course, critiquing it. His tastes ran from gourmet meals to boiled hot dogs. He was always on the hunt for the perfect mozzarella and single-handedly supported more than a few local pizza shops and delis.

Most of all, Richard enjoyed sharing food and breaking bread with others. Family was his greatest joy. He was happiest at a crowded table, surrounded by family and friends, with garlic in the air, and the sounds of family chaos ringing out. He always managed to make room for one more chair at the table and make everyone feel welcome and valued. He especially treasured time with his grandchildren, who called him “Poppy”, and took great joy in their accomplishments.

Richard is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 63 years, Joan; his children, Jill Schiaparelli and her husband, Michael; Lynn Pinto; Richard Pinto; and Laura Holcomb and her husband, Sean; and his six cherished grandchildren: Eliot Schiaparelli and her partner, Michael Pulice; Beckett Schiaparelli; Delphina Engelstein; Kellan Holcomb; Gavin Holcomb; and Archie Pinto. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank Sr. and Julia Pinto; his sister, Philomena Pinto; and his brother and sister-in-law, Frank Jr. and Ann Pinto.

Richard’s family was truly blessed to have him as their patriarch, protector, and the man who was always happy to share an opinion – whether you asked or not! The world is a better place for having had Richard in it. Please remember him from time to time—and smile.

The family will hold a visitation at Gray & Pescitelli Funeral Home, 12 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, NJ on Sunday, August 16 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A Funeral Service will be offered at The First Presbyterian Church of Cranford on Monday, August 17 at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Richard’s memory to one of the following charities: Community Food Bank of New Jersey supporting food insecurity in the greater Cranford area, CFBNJ.org, Shriners Children’s to provide high quality medical care to children with complex medical issues, Donate.ShrinersChildrens.org, or Tunnels to Towers Foundation to support first responders and military members, T2T.org.