Obituary of Richard A Cozze

Richard A. Cozze Sr., "Dick" 87, of Jutland NJ passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday October 12 2014, at Hunterdon Medical Center. Born in Union Township, Hunterdon County, NJ on September 14, 1927, he resided in Jutland most of his life. He attended Clinton High School and served in the Merchant Marines. He was the son of the late Frank and Caterina Cozze. He was well-known and highly respected in the sport of auto racing, mostly stock cars. He was a car owner for such famous drivers as Al Tasnady, Budd Olsen, Stan Ploski and Robert Pickell, who raced his car in the 1967 Daytona 500. Racing was a family affair. He and his sons were behind the Cozze Brothers Engineering race team, which was known for its well-constructed and best prepared rides. Many years prior to becoming a car owner, he raced for one season in 1950 at tracks in Newark and Morristown. His sons also raced and one continues to race today. He was inducted into Eastern Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. And, in 2011, he was recipient of the Northeast Modified Hall of Fame "Gene DeWitt Outstanding Car Owner Award. He and brothers, Andrew and Frank, formed Jutland Auto Wreckers in 1958, which later became Cozze Brothers, an auto salvage business he operated in the township for more than four decades. He is survived by his fiancée, Judith Burns, his sister, Josephine Senese of Belvidere, NJ, four children: Rick of Pittstown, Frank and his wife Janice of Wind Gap, PA, Cindy Williamson and her husband Jack of Flemington and Louis and his wife Bonnie of Raubsville, PA. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is predeceased in death by his wife, Madelyn who died in 1986, and seven brothers and sisters: John, Joseph, Andrew, Frank, Louise Miller, Frances Capra and Helen Martin. A funeral service will be held at 10:00a.m. on Thursday October 16, at Martin Funeral Home, 1761 Route 31, Clinton, NJ 08809. Visiting will be held on Wednesday October 15, from 2:00 to 4:00p.m and from 6:00 to 9:00pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shannon Daley Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1271, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889.