Joseph J. Durina
Lieutenant Joseph J. Durina Jr., 77, died Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014, at Sunset Lake Health & Rehabilitation Center in Venice, Fla. Lt. Durina, son of the late Joseph J. and Mildred (Berry) Durina was born in Franklin Borough, N.J., June 14, 1937. Lt. Durina lived in Franklin for many years, later residing in Vernon Township before retiring to Rotonda West, Fla.
Lt. Durina had a distinguished career in law enforcement with the New Jersey state police which spanned more than three decades. Lt. Durina joined the N.J. state police in 1960 and advanced through the ranks of sergeant and sergeant first class to lieutenant. Lt. Durina was assigned to barracks in Washington, Scotch Plains, Newfoundland, Hainesville, Morristown and Flemington, served with Troop E on the Garden State Parkway, played a vital role in the restoration of order during the 1967 riots in Newark, and completed special underwater assignments as a certified diver. He was assigned as station commander in Newton, Netcong, Hope and Sussex. Lt. Durina retired in 1991 as the Sussex Station Commander, Augusta, N.J.
Joe served with the U.S. Army Military Police, stationed in Germany, from 1955 to 1958. He was a member of American Legion Post #113 of Rotonda West, Fla. Joe was also an exempt member of the Franklin Fire Department.
Joe was an avid golfer having achieved a hole-in-one three times. He had the opportunity to play golf in Scotland including St. Andrew’s Golf Course. He was a member of Rotonda West Country Club and a former member of Wallkill Golf Club in Franklin, N.J.
An exceptional athlete for Franklin High School class of 1955, Joe was nominated to New Jersey's all-state football and baseball teams. Joe's performances at the Annual Kiwanis Track and Field Competitions in 1953 and 1954 recognized him as “Sussex County Speed King.” Joe went on to play semi-professional football for the Franklin Miners.
Joe is survived by his brother, Dick Durina and his wife, Irene, of Franklin Borough; niece, Dawn Pfeil and her husband, Peter, of Frankford Township; nephew, Richard Durina Jr. and his wife, Debbie, of Franklin Township; grandniece and grandnephews; Garrett and Gabrielle Pfeil and Tyler Joseph Durina; former wife, Susan Durina of S.C.; and Cheryl and Pete Garrett of Virginia to whom he was "Pops."
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, at 10 a.m. from F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, 1 Main St., Franklin, to Immaculate Conception RC Church, Franklin, for a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Fire Dept. services will be held at the funeral home Friday at 7:30 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to: Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS, 66675 or www.wounded warriorproject.org. For directions and online condolences please see www.fjohnramseyfuneralhome.com.