Vinnie was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 6, 1955. He grew up in both Hillsdale then Haworth, NJ and attended Northern Valley Regional High School, in Demarest. As a proud member of the class of 1973, he was co-captain of the high school football team and was a member of the wrestling team.
He attended Rochester Institute of Technology.
His medical battle was one of courage, grace, and determination, having endured 10 years fighting Stage 4 lung cancer.
A non-smoker, Vinnie still stayed active in life and never allowed his illness to hold him back. He was a brave warrior who did not slow down, but rather continued being dedicated to his career, family and friends. He also loved travelling to Puerto Vallarta. In addition, he loved golf, skiing, swimming, traveling, writing, boating, fishing, and of course riding his Harley Davidson. He did it his way.
Vinnie was born into the beauty industry where he held various sales positions and gave his heart and soul to the business.
Vinnie started his career working for the family business, the V.J. Curcio Company, then in Jersey City, NJ, as a third-generation family member. He started in the stock room and spent his summers delivering orders and learning the business from the best – his father Victor Joseph Curcio.
A true people person, Vinnie spent his life working in the beauty business and was a master of his trade. He went on to work for Revlon-Realistic, was co-owner of The Wild Company and was a sales executive for The Kirschner Group.
He was well loved and respected for his business acumen and detailed knowledge of the many brands he represented. His love for his customers and manufacturers was deep and reciprocated. He won countless awards and received many accolades
for excellence in his career. Vinnie loved what he did, the friends he made, and the clientele he served. If you were a customer of Vinnie’s, you were a friend and if you were a friend, you were family.
He was a consummate storyteller and God forbid if you interrupted him. If you were lucky enough to be his girlfriend, you never paid for a dinner, a date, or a vacation. Plus, he was a great gift-giver.
Vinnie is survived by his son, Jarred Victor Curcio, and his wife, Katelyn, daughter, Kara Lynne Barker, and her husband, Ryan, his adored twin granddaughters, Fia and Ella Barker, his sister Joni Rae Russell and her husband, Robert, his sister Marie Grace Elwell and her husband, Bob, his niece and nephew Lauren Elwell, and Robert William Elwell, his brother-in-law William Mertz and his wife, Kathi, his niece and nephew Caitlin Mertz and Taylor Mertz, his goddaughter Victoria Strange and his girlfriend Susan Silver.
He leaves behind many cousins and dear friends.
The family, in this time of the pandemic, asks that in lieu of flowers or donations, that you patronize your favorite restaurants, either as dine-in or take-out, say a prayer for Vinnie, make a toast to his memory and tip your servers well.
The immediate family will hold a private Mass and Burial at St Luke’s Parish in Toms River, NJ and Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ.
A “celebration of life” will be announced where all can come and lift a celebratory glass to Vinnie sometime in 2021. Details to follow.
The family wishes to sincerely thank Vinnie’s friends, industry associates, and clients for their compassionate messages.
