Victor C. Ottilio, 78, of Hackettstown, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2026, surrounded by family and friends, after a courageous battle with mesothelioma.

Born on May 16, 1948, in Paterson, New Jersey, Victor attended Don Bosco Tech High School before proudly serving in the United States Army National Guard during the Vietnam War. As a third-generation demolition contractor, he devoted his life to the family business, V. Ottilio & Sons, taking great pride in his work as a master contractor.

Victor was an avid hunter and a master marksman. For many years he enjoyed boating and fishing, and he especially loved crabbing. He took great pride in making his Italian crab sauce, his fresh mozzarella, and his mother’s macaroni pie, and he was also known for stringing hot peppers.

In 1999, he built a beautiful custom lodge on his hunting property in Mansfield, New Jersey, where he later retired. There he enjoyed cooking, hosting gatherings for family and friends, and tending to his land. A true man’s man, Victor was known for his strong-willed nature and tenacity. When doctors gave him just six months to live after his diagnosis with aggressive mesothelioma, he went on to live nearly four years—proof of his fierce determination and refusal to give up. Everyone who knew him got a good laugh out of his determined ways, and he had a humor all his own.

Victor was predeceased by his loving parents, Michael and Rose Ottilio. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Catherine. Together they raised two wonderful daughters, Cara Ottilio-Cooper and her husband, David, and their children, Michael and Evan; and their youngest daughter, Kathryn; his sister, Catherine Ottilio; niece, Nicolette Maggio; his Aunt Josephine “Aunt Jo” Gringoli, who is 100 years old; his cousin, Karen Baccollo; his beloved companion dog, Missy; and many beloved family members, friends, and neighbors.

A wake will be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Cochran Funeral Home in Hackettstown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 10:45 a.m. at St. James Church in Totowa, followed by interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery South in Totowa.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Victor’s memory to the Wildlife Conservation Society. http://www.wcs.org or Tunnel to Towers Foundation, http://www.t2t.org