Anthony “Snooky" D'Esposito, 87 of Oakhurst, NJ, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Friday, November 24, 2023. Snooky was raised in Bradley Beach, NJ, by his parents Anthony and Margaret D'Esposito. At a young age, Snooky learned many skills during his time working at his family's bakery, where he specialized in baking wedding cakes. Snooky graduated from Asbury Park High School in 1956 and it was here where he met his wife Barbara A. Vacchiano. While in high school, Snooky was the star quarterback of the Blue Bishop’s football team that went on to win the State Championship in 1956. After graduation, Snooky attended Valley Forge Military Academy. In the mid 1960’s, Snooky started what is now known as Sunset Farm and Garden Center in Wanamassa, NJ. Snooky and his brother, Frank, along with their wives, turned what was originally a small roadside stand with canvas sides and a dirt floor into a thriving business. Snooky was known for driving a vintage red ford pickup truck. It was in this truck where his wife Barbara would accompany him to customer's homes to sketch landscape drawings long before landscape architecture evolved into a profession.  Together, Snooky and Frank combined their talents to develop what was originally a produce market into a prominent residential garden center, which served customers from the Jersey Shore to Brooklyn, NY. Anyone who worked alongside Snooky and Frank was afforded their "Old School" training which, in a way, was a right of passage.  Snooky was a dedicated and loyal husband and a loving father, grandfather, and friend. Snooky will always be remembered as a charitable, generous, and hardworking man. Snooky was loved by so many—he will be dearly missed and never forgotten. Snooky is predeceased by his beloved wife Barbara, his brothers, Pasquale and Frank, and his brother-in-law Areo Regoli. Snooky is survived by his daughter Toni, son John and his wife Joette, granddaughter Jaclyn and her husband Benjamin Nadell, granddaughter Jordyn, sister Gloria Regoli and her family (AJ Regoli, Elisa Regoli Rodriguez, Mona Regoli , Gina Cendoya ), sister-in-law Patricia Brown and her family (Nikki Hoffman and here husband James Hoffman , Gavino Vetrano, and Mike Brown), sister-in-law Area D’Esposito  and her family (Christopher D’Esposito, Denise D’Esposito,  and Genni Gabrysiak), and sister-in-law Barbara J. D’Esposito and her family (Michael D’Esposito, Mark D’Esposito, and Frank D’Esposito). Snooky also leaves behind many great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends. We would be remiss not to also mention that Snooky is survived by his beloved cats. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Snooky’s honor to the Three Little Kittens (https://threelittlekittens.org), a not-for-profit organization in Asbury Park that provides rescue, foster care and adoption services.  A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 am on Friday, December 1, 2023, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 1201 Asbury Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712. There will be no visiting hours. Entombment at Mt. Calvary Mausoleum in Neptune will immediately follow the funeral mass. For condolences please visit www.buckleyfuneralhome.net
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