Daughter Of Hoboken 'Cake Boss' Bakery Founder Passes Away At 91
HOBOKEN, NJ – A true daughter of Hoboken, whose father founded and gave his name to the famous Carlo's Bakery seen in TV's "Cake Boss" reality TV show, has died.
Connie Guastaferro Galombardo, daughter of late Carlo's Bakery founder Carlo Guastaferro, passed away in Virginia on Saturday at 91.
Around 1910, Connie's father, Carlo Guastaferro, founded an Italian-French pastry shop on Fifth Street in the center of Hoboken. It was one of 19 Italian bakeries in the mile-square city at the time, according to a book. The shop moved and changed names, eventually landing at Washington and First streets, across from City Hall and blocks from the Hoboken train station.
In 1964, Carlo sold the shop to Bartolo Valastro. Valastro passed away when his son, Bartolo Jr., or "Buddy," was 17. Buddy eventually took over the shop. In spring of 2009, Buddy became the center of the new "Cake Boss" reality show on TLC.
Meanwhile, Guastaferro's daughter Connie went on to live a long life among her family, first in Hoboken, then in Virginia.
According to her obituary, she died peacefully at home in Callaway, Va. over the weekend.
She was born in Hoboken on Aug. 3, 1928, daughter of Carlo and Rafaela Guasaferro. She went on to graduate from St. Mary's Nursing School in Hoboken.
Connie became a home health nurse first in Hoboken, then in Asbury Park.
According to the obituary, after moving to Virginia to be with family, "Connie remained active by participating in water aerobics at the YMCA, volunteering at Franklin Memorial Hospital, participating in spaghetti dinners and other activities at Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Rocky Mount, Va. She took up residence in an apartment in her daughters' house where she remained independent and feisty up until her death."
She was pre-deceased by husband Arthur Galombardo, sisters Mildred Emerian and Lucille Altomaro, brother Angelo Guastaferro, grandson Rick Paul Mercogliano; and her "favorite son-in-law, Riccardo Mercogliano." Her younger brother Angelo, a former NASA engineer, passed away a year ago.
She is survived by daughter Jayne Mercogliano, son Arthur Gallombardo, and five grandsons: Douglas and Hallee' Mercogliano, Robert and Melissa Mercogliano, John and Cheri Mercogliano, Taisha Mercogliano, Nicholas Gallombardo, and Zachary Gallombardo. She also has four great-grandchildren: Dominic, Alana, Ryleigh, and Rocco.
The obituary says that due to coronavirus restrictions, funeral services will be held at a later date.
The obit noted, "A special thank you to Dr. Matthew Billups and Good Samaritan Hospice for their kindness, support, and care. Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount."
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This article originally appeared on the Hoboken Patch
