PARSIPPANY — Hector A. Cafferata, 86, of Venice, FL, formerly of Lake Hiawatha passed away April 12, 2016 with his loving family by his side. Mr. Cafferata served his country during the Korean War as a PFC USMC, 2nd Batallion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Fox Company. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for Conspicuous Gallantry during the Chosin Reservoir Campaign in Korea in 1950, as well as its South Korean equivalent, the First Class Taegeuk Cordon of the Order of Military Merit.
Mr. Cafferata also received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Because of his meritorious service, the Hector A. Cafferata Elementary School in Fort Myers, Florida was named in his honor.
It was his joy to visit the school from time to time, something he missed doing in his later years. Preceded in death by his parents Hector, Sr., and Helen, his brother Godfrey (John) R. Cafferata, and a grandson, Mr. Cafferata is survived by Doris, his loving wife of over 50 years, children Lynn D. Cafferata Coovert of Charlotte, North Carolina, Dale Cafferata of Pinellas Park, Florida, Heather A. Cafferata of Budd Lake, and Deborah Cafferata-ReFalo of Charlotte, North Carolina. He is also survived by his precious grandchildren Jessica, Peter, Nicole, David, Jennifer, and Alexandria, cherished great grandchildren Emily, Remy, and Landon, dear brother William N. Cafferata of Vancouver, B.C., and numerous nieces and nephews.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16. He will be laid to rest with military honors in Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 22. A reception will follow services.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Mr. Cafferata’s memory to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation at www.mcsf.org.
Friends may visit www.farleyfuneralhome.com to send a condolence or to share a memory.
