Gregory Castelli

Gregory B. Castelli, 93, of Raritan, NJ, passed away peacefully on December 3 at Country Arch Care Center in Union Township. Born in 1929 in Bound Brook, Greg worked his way through high school setting pins at a local bowling alley. In 1948, after graduating from St Joseph's School, he began a four-year apprenticeship with Carpenters Union Local 853, 455 (now Local 254) that led to a lifelong career. Over the next 47 years, his hammer helped build the infrastructure of Central New Jersey. He remained a proud, card-carrying union member until his death.

Greg was a bluegrass enthusiast who enjoyed listening to the music of heroes Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Jimmie Rodgers and others as much as he loved performing it. He was an accomplished musician — adept on guitar, banjo and dobro — and a long-time member of the Bluegrass and Oldtime Music Association of New Jersey. He was a regular on the Heartlands Hayride show on WDVR-FM, where host Richard Evans would always introduce him as the “real thing.” For 30 years, Greg hosted a bluegrass festival in Glen Gardner on the property of his son and daughter-in-law. Held over a weekend in June, the event would draw some of the finest pickers in the region. His favorite duet partner, however, was his wife, Lillian, who would accompany him on piano, mandolin and accordion during impromptu living room jam sessions. In his spare time, Greg liked to build musical instruments from scratch. A skilled mechanic, he rebuilt cars and motorcycles and could fix just about anything that needed fixing. He was a regular at Raritan’s Basilone Parade, an event he rarely missed dating back to the original wartime parade in 1943. He was often spotted riding his bike through Duke Island Park, which he continued to do until he was 90 years old, and at the bar at Chimney Rock Inn, enjoying a frosty mug and a well-done plain pizza pie.

Greg is remembered by those who knew his as an honest and genuine man. He will be missed.

Greg was predeceased by his beloved wife of more than 55 years, Lillian (nee Klotzer), and siblings Christine Sepesi and Frank Castelli, his twin brother. He is survived by siblings Ann Devine of Seekonk, MA, and Blaise “Buzz” Castelli of Green Cove Springs, FL; children Marie A. Castelli of Houston, TX, Gregory F. Castelli of Glen Gardner, NJ, and wife Michele; and James J. Castelli of Lambertville, NJ, and husband David Muha; stepdaughters Carole Crider, Nancy Surber and Marilyn (Chicky) Leonard; grandchildren Nina Rivera, Antoinette (Toni) Rivera, and Blaise Castelli; great-grandson Raul Gutierrez IV; and numerous step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

Gathering with the family will be 7:00 t0 9:00 PM, Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home, 225 Mountain Ave., Bound Brook. A prayer service will begin at 10:30 AM, Thursday, December 8, 2022, at the funeral home, followed by an 11:00 AM graveside service at St. Joseph Cemetery, Bridgewater.