William Paul Ricigliano – also known as Bill – was the owner of Brookdale Tavern and Kitchen in Bloomfield and passed away at the age of 63 on April 13, 2020 at Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, New Jersey.
Bill managed Brookdale Tavern and Kitchen with Debbie Ricigliano, his wife, starting in early 2016. Their work transformed the restaurant into a destination for local residents and groups like the Bloomfield Police Department and Bloomfield Education Association.
Bill lived throughout the area over the course of his life, including East Orange and North Caldwell, but his impact on Bloomfield will clearly be long-lasting, according to his brother, Vincent Ricigliano.
Vincent wrote that, following Bill’s death, residents remembered him as a friendly and generous man who welcomed guests with a smile and made sure people felt comfortable and satisfied in his establishment. “Seeing and feeling the effect of Bill’s legacy is heartwarming and inspiring,” said Vincent.
“Bill’s passing leaves a gaping void in his family, his lifelong friends – many of which he maintained from childhood – and all whom he touched throughout his meaningful life,” Vincent added.
In memory of Bill, memorial trees can be purchased for planting by the American Forests Organization here.
Do you know someone our community has lost to COVID-19? You can share their name on Bloomfield’s memorial and historical archive here.