James V. Rovi, a World War II veteran who survived the Battle of Guadalcanal as well as malaria, died peacefully in his sleep at the N.J. Veterans Home in Paramus on May 4.
He was 100. The cause of death was COVID-19.
To know him was to love him. He was loving, sweet, intelligent, hard-working, and creative. He was a man of unquestioned integrity.
Jim was born and educated in Newark, N.J. His parents, Rosaria and Joseph Rovi, were Sicilian immigrants. During the Second World War, he served in the South Pacific Theater in the U.S. Army’s newly formed Americal Division, which earned a citation for its support of the Marine Corps.
After the war, he married Christine Marrazzo. The couple settled in North Arlington and raised three children. A gifted landscaper with an artist’s eye, he co-owned Rovi Landscaping with his brother Anthony. In the fall and winter, he drove a truck for Petro Oil Company. He was 1992 Elk of the Year, and served the Elks as trustee, secretary of the board and chairman of numerous events.
He was predeceased by Christine and his second wife, Millie Sacco.
He was the loving father of daughters Susan Rovi Mach (Laurence) and Rosalyn McWatters (Kevin) and daughter-in-law Sue D. Rovi. He was predeceased by his son, Robert Rovi. He was the loving step-father of Thomas Sacco, Vincent Sacco (Maryann) and Melanie Sacco. He also left behind six grand-children, plus numerous nieces, nephews and close family friends.
Jim was a man of immense compassion. Those wishing to make a donation in Jim’s honor should visit the home page of Feeding America: feedingamerica.org
