Obituaries

James Vigilante, Former Parsippany Councilman and Master Sgt., Dies at 49

Longtime public servant suffered sudden heart attack Sunday.

U.S. Air Force Reserves Master Sgt. Morris County Republican Committee member and former Parsippany Town Councilman James Vigilante  is dead at the age of 49 following a Sunday morning heart attack, according to NJ.com.

Vigilante, who had recently attempted a run for Morris County Clerk, died at about 6 a.m. at Hackensack Medical Center, the article said.

The man was known for civic work with groups such as Uncle Sam's Motorcycle Club and for visiting area schools each year with Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen for the Valentines for Vets program

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"Alongside all Morris County residents, I salute his distinguished service in the Air Force including his tours in Afghanistan where he helped evacuate wounded warriors and his many contributions to the Parsippany community including service on the township council," Frelinghuysen said in a statement. "I will always be grateful for the energetic role he played every year on our 'Valentines for Vets' tour of elementary schools across the 11th Congressional District. Jimmy Vigilante was a proud son of Parsippany.”

Vigilante's most recent stint abroad in service to the nation was in 2011, when he worked at the Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan, where he notably lent a helping hand to Parsippany's Sgt. Derek McConnell, who was severely wounded, and who died less than two years later.

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Siobhan Fuller-McConnell, the young soldier's mother, paid tribute to Vigilante on his final Facebook post.

"He got my son on the Medevac in Afghanistan," she wrote. "Was so supportive and wonderful when my son died. Good friend."


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