Obituary of Gary J. Lepre

Gary J. Lepre, a longtime Stanhope resident, passed away at home on Sunday October 7, 2018. He was 68. 

Gary was born in Morristown on March 28, 1950 to the late August and Reba Lepre. He was raised in Morris Plains and moved to Stanhope shortly after graduating college, where he has lived since. 

Gary was a 1970 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hartford, CT. He also earned his Associate of the Arts in foodservice administration in 1973 from Lehigh Carbon College in Schnecksville, PA. After graduating, Gary was employed as a chef with the Afton Inn of Florham Park, then with Llewellyn Farms of Parsippany. He was also employed by the foodservice department of Lafayette College in Easton, PA and from there he would go on to be responsible for the operation of the coffee shop at Morristown Memorial Hospital. In 1998 Gary retired from the foodservice industry and found his calling as a certified alcohol and drug counselor. He helped countless people battling with addiction at the Boonton Rehabilitation Center, an affiliate of St. Clare’s Hospital, starting in 1998 until his retirement in 2016. Gary’s legacy of caring and compassion for others will be proudly remembered by all those that knew and loved him. He also had a big heart when it came to his dogs and animal welfare in general.

Gary leaves behind his brother, Anthony Lepre and his wife, Joyce of Sun City Center, FL; his sister, Dorothea Lepre of Morristown; a niece, Dana Dentzer; two nephews, Steven Dentzer and his wife Kim; & David Lepre and his wife, Antoinette; two great nephews, Louie & Jake; step-mother, Zoila Lepre; and brother-in-law, Ted Dentzer. 

A funeral service will be held at 10:00AM on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison, led by Msgr. George Hundt.  Interment will follow at Somerset Hills Memorial Park, Basking Ridge. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation to celebrate Gary’s life on Friday from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at the funeral home.

Charitable contributions can be made in Gary’s memory to the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, 194 Route 10, East Hanover, NJ 07936

Condolences to the family may be made online by visiting our website at www.madisonmemorialhome.com