Obituary of Peter Grieco

Peter Grieco, 86, of Freehold Township, NJ, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 24, 2022.Peter was born at home in Brooklyn, NY on September 13, 1935, where he grew up with his three sisters.  He enjoyed a happy childhood in Williamsburg, playing stickball with his friends in the street.  When his parents moved the family to Sunnyside, Queens, Peter braved the subway as a young boy to continue school in Williamsburg because he missed his friends so much.  Peter was the Valedictorian of his high school class upon graduation.  He went on to earn his Associate degree in Chemistry at New York City College.  Peter then began his career at Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company as a chemist in the laboratory.  While working, he went back to school at night and earned a second degree in Computer Science.  He then became a Computer Systems Analyst with Pfizer, where he worked for the next 40 years.

Peter proudly served his country with the United States Army.  He enjoyed being stationed in Germany and visiting other European cities while on leave.Peter met the love of his life, Joann Barrie, on the New Jersey Shore in 1960.  They married in 1963 and shortly after moved from Brooklyn to Great Kills, Staten Island, where they raised their three daughters and made lifelong friends.  They started their own successful antiques business in Red Bank, NJ, which they enjoyed together for over 25 years.  In 2007, Peter and Joann moved from Great Kills to Freehold, New Jersey.

Peter was a kind, quiet, compassionate man.  He loved animals and had many beloved dogs throughout the years.  Peter was a skilled handyman who could fix anything.  He was an avid reader as well as a movie buff.  He loved playing Trivial Pursuit with friends.  He enjoyed vacationing with Joann and their family throughout the years in Florida, at their home in the Poconos, in the Caribbean, and on Long Beach Island.  Peter’s interests included vitamins and natural remedies.  He loved music of all genres, with Johnny Cash being a particular favorite.  Peter loved good food and red wine, especially his macaroni and “Sunday sauce.” But what he enjoyed most was spending time at home with his wife and family.  Peter was a brilliant man and a loving husband, father and grandfather.  He is deeply loved and will be forever missed.  

Peter is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Joann; his three daughters and sons-in-law: Pamela Petrella (Greg), Phyllis Nagrowski (Todd), Jennifer Woods (Thomas); five grandchildren: Nicholas, Larissa, Todd, Laurel and Luke.  He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Friends and family are invited to attend a Memorial Gathering on Saturday July 9, 2022 from 12:00pm – 3:00pm at Freeman Funeral Home, 47 E. Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Peter’s memory to Music & Memory at: https://musicandmemory.org/ or All Fur Love Animal Rescue at: https://www.allfurlove.org.To leave a condolence or find directions, please visit www.freemanfuneralhomes.com