Owner Of The Ridge Restaurant Dies, Mourned By Community

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The Basking Ridge community is mourning the death of Joseph I. Canderozzi, 83, who owned The Ridge Restaurant & Pizza in the center of town.

Canderozzi, a Vietnam War veteran, and his wife Teresa took a chance on a restaurant in the center of historic Basking Ridge back in the 1980's. Together they opened The Ridge at 25 South Finley Ave.

"Providing family recipes at good prices, while offering a warm family atmosphere to all that visited. Over the decades The Ridge has become an anchor business in the center of town. Generations of residents have come thru the doors to dine, work, network and enjoy special moments," according to The Ridge Restaurant & Pizza.

Along with restaurant owner, Canderozzi wore many hats as a husband, father, grandfather, veteran, and philanthropist.

"While we all mourn Joe's passing, we know it was a life well spent. His loving wife Terri, children, grandchildren and so on, were of utmost importance to Joe and brought a smile to his face when you asked about them," according to The Ridge Restaurant & Pizza.

He was always happy to give back to the community. He served as President for the Cento Amici, a community-based organization dedicated to supporting education in New Jersey. He has also helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years for charitable causes and scholarships.

Canderozzi was instrumental in helping the Bernards Township Regional Chamber of Commerce startup from the former Basking Ridge Ye Old Business Men's Association.

"Canderozzi's many charitable works went largely unnoticed and done behind the scenes," according to The Ridge Restaurant & Pizza.

Such as when Sandy hit the town and power was out, Canderozzi worked with one of his many friends, Al LiCata, to provide meals to the seniors at Ridge Oak Senior Living Center during those powerless weeks. He provided meals to residents that lost loved ones and those he learned were experiencing difficult financial times to mention just a few of his many kind acts.

Throughout the years, Canderozzi and his restaurant were able to weather many storms including the recent pandemic. Now the business will continue to operate through family and friends taking charge and "keeping the same level of quality, good pricing and warm atmosphere that Joe provided all these years," according to The Ridge Restaurant & Pizza.

Canderozzi is survived by his wife of 42 years to Teresa (Scarimbolo) Canderozzi, son Robert and his wife Frances, son Anthony and his wife Gerilyn, daughter Judi and her husband Ben, daughter Daniela, son Nico and his wife Jackie, grandchildren Arielle and Robert, Noah, Zachary and Jacob, Danielle and Stephanie, Nicole, Victoria, Olivia and Joseph, Jordan, Sebastiano and Alessandro. And his brother Richard and his wife Mariellen, and Edward.

Visitation will be held at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park on Monday and Tuesday from 3 to 8 p.m. A funeral will be held on Wednesday assembling at the Leonardis Memorial Home at 10 a.m. followed by the funeral mass at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany at 11 a.m. Entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joseph’s name to Cento Amici by clicking here.

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