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Born in West New York, Maresca pursued his love of education and sports by attaining his degree from Montclair State College and his masters in education from Jersey City State College. He began his career in education in Palisades Park, where he taught for 35 years and served as the head baseball coach for Palisades Park High School. He led the baseball team to its first state championship. He also served as the head of the cooperative industrial education department.
Maresca was a former mayor of Palisades Park before resigning in 1995. He served the borough and county in various positions, including recreation director, planning board member, two terms as councilman and Bergen County's first recreation director. He was named to the Memorial High School Sports Hall of Fame and also the Palisades Park High School Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife, Doris (Lampert) Maresca; children, Scott Maresca, Tara and her husband Michael Lehman, Mark and his wife Roxanne Scrufari, Scott and his wife Katiuska Scrufari, Vincent Scrufari, Gina and her husband Michael Turnbull; daughter-in-law Donna Maresca; and grandchildren Vincent Maresca, Tiffany Maresca, Paul William Lehman, Sophia Turnbull and Johanthan Turnbull.
Maresca was predeceased by his first wife, Virginia (Saracino) Maresca; daughter Julie Sanchez; parents Salvatore and Sadie Maresca; and brother Frank Maresca.
Visiting hours will be from 3-9 p.m. on Friday, March 11, at Hunt Stellato Funeral Home, 1601 Palisade Ave., in Fort Lee. A funeral service will be 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, from the funeral home. A funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. at St. Michael's Church, in Palisades Park. Interment will be in Crest Haven Cemetery, in Clifton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to William J. Maresca Scholarship Fund, c/o Palisades Park Board of Education, 410 Second St., Palisades Park NJ 07650.
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