Eugene J. Maddalena

Eugene J. “Gene” Maddalena, age 53 years, of East Amwell Township, NJ, died on Friday, October 23, 2009 at his residence, after a long battle with cancer.

Born in the Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ on March 28, 1956, he was the son of Louise Taylor Maddalena and the late Louis P. Maddalena, who died in 1988.

He and his wife, Janet, owned and operated a catering and cheesecake company bearing their name for more than 27 years.

He was raised in the Croton section of Raritan Township. A 1974 graduate of Hunterdon Central High School, he then graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. After working as an Executive Chef in several New York and New Jersey restaurants, he and Janet began to do weekend catering and in 1982 opened a small cheesecake factory in Flemington.

They later moved their business to a complex on Route 31 south of Ringoes in East Amwell. It handles both intimate and large catering jobs and is the exclusive caterer at several banquet rooms in Hunterdon.

Gene was first diagnosed with cancer in 2001. It was his wish that if he ever did succumb to his illness, that the legacy of service, quality and respect put forth by "Catering by the Maddalena's" would continue; and the Maddalena family has made that their mission.

In addition to his wife and mother, survivors include two sons, Jeff and Gene Jr.; a brother, Louis “Pete” Maddalena; and a sister, Anna Marie Gonzalez.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Interment will follow in St. Magdalen Cemetery, North Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Calling hours will be Wednesday from 5:30-9:00 p.m. in the Funeral Home. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hunterdon Hospice, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822.