Obituary of Julien G. Bonifacio

Julien Gabe Bonifacio, 43, passed away on December 15, 2020, peacefully at his home in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, surrounded by family. Julien was born July 1, 1977, in Belleville to Blanquita and Maximo Bonifacio and spent most of his childhood in Roseland. He attended Delbarton School, where he made many lifelong friends, and graduated in 1995. Following high school, he attended the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in economics and bioengineering. After graduation, he worked in Manhattan as an acquisitions financial analyst for Fortress Investment Group. In 2001, upon realizing that corporate life wasn’t for him, Julien left Manhattan for Philadelphia and took a job as a data coordinator/research assistant for the Thoracic Surgery department at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and eventually matriculated to Drexel University, graduating with a nursing degree in 2005. That same year, Julien joined his family’s business at Merry Heart Senior Care Services in Succasunna in various capacities that ranged from nurse, staff educator, and CALA- and LNHA-licensed administrator. During his time as Executive Vice President, the position he held at the time of his passing, he facilitated the company’s expansion by building its assisted living facility from the ground up through its operations, policies, procedures, and technologies. Julien loved his children’s sports teams and attended all their games. He was a rowdy fan, and the girls always knew when he was on the sidelines of their soccer and lacrosse games. He volunteered his time on the board of the Mountain Lakes girls’ lacrosse team and could be found painting the lines on the fields with the other dads. He spent a season as one of the soccer coaches for his daughter Riley’s recreational travel team and said that it was the most fulfilling experience to watch the girls improve their skills individually and grow as a team. Julien also loved teaching the children to golf, ski, and play squash. Julien is survived by his wife, Aileen; three children, Riley, Emerson, and Maxwell; his parents, Maximo and Blanquita Bonifacio; his sister, Barbara Bonifacio; and numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins. Visiting for Julien will be on Sunday, December 20, 2020, from 1 to 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Abbey at Delbarton School, Morristown, New Jersey. (Adhering to CDC guidelines — social distancing and masks are required. In order to allow everyone the opportunity to pay their respects, we respectfully ask that you please make your visit brief.). A funeral mass will be held on Monday, December 21, 2020, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Abbey. Mass will also be live-streamed on St. Mary Abbey's website (https://www.saintmarysabbey.org/). Inurnment of ashes will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Julien may be made to: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (https://giving.mskcc.org/donate-now) or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (https://www.pancan.org/honormemorial-gifts/)