In Memoriam: Writer, Restaurateur, Singer, Mark Vasto, 49

Writer, restaurateur and singer, Mark Vasto passed away peacefully on Friday, Aug. 20 with his loving family at his side. He was 49.

Mark Vasto
Photo/family via John E. Day Funeral Home

“Mark greatly enjoyed singing at family events as well as many paid gigs with his signature Dean Martin stylized voice. Mark had a great devotion to St. Catherine of Siena, and through this love he became involved with the homeless in Atlantic City where he purchased blankets and food and
helped them obtain shelter …
Mark will be greatly missed by all who cared and loved him. He touched so many people from so many walks of life. Mark will be greatly missed by all
who cared and loved him.
He loved all very deeply.”
Loved ones of Mark Vasto in his obituary

Mark was born in Montclair and grew up in Middletown. He graduated from Middletown High School South and then attended the University of Maryland.

He began his career with IBM in Atlanta as an I/T Analyst, where he worked for several years until pursuing his first love of writing and reporting with the Vinings Gazette.

Next he moved to Greenwich Village, NYC and further honed his writing while developing his second career as a restaurateur/saloon keeper. He then moved to Kansas City where he created the Parkville Luminary, a newspaper which he published for many years.

Mark also was a syndicated sportswriter for Hearst Newspapers with a column appearing in many newspapers across the country. He later returned to the food and beverage industry working for Gordon Ramsey’s company.

He will be lovingly remembered and survived by: his beloved son, Joseph of Dallas, TX; his devoted parents, Salvatore and Elizabeth (nee Tamburello) Vasto; his sister, Erica Schulke and her husband Chris; his two dear nephews, Michael and James Schulke; his godmother, Marlene Berry and her husband Mark; and his aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank, on Thursday, Aug. 26, from 4 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be held on Friday at 9:15 a.m. There will be a funeral mass celebrated at the Church of St. Catharine, Holmdel, at 10:30 a.m. The entombment will follow at Holmdel Chapel Mausoleum, Holmdel.

At the request of the family, face masks are preferred.

— Edited obituary prepared and provided by family via John E. Day Funeral Home