Students and Faculty of Both Cicely Tyson High School in East
Orange and Bloomfield College Celebrate the Life of Teacher
Vincent Potuto, who Passed On, Valentine's Day, 02/14/2014. A
Memorial Service was held on Wednesday, February 26, at 11:00 AM
at the New
Hope Baptist Church of East Orange, 144 Norman St., East
Orange. Frederick Goode worked with friends and family to produce
a memorial booklet that was used at the service:
Vincent M. Potuto, 62, of Boonton New Jersey,
born to Vincent Sr. and Dorothy Potuto on August 17, 1951 in
Jersey City, New Jersey, passed away on Friday, February 14, 2014
at St. Clare's Hospital in Denville, New Jersey after suffering a
massive heart attack at his home in Boonton, New Jersey. Vincent
is survived by his Aunt Joyce Parsi and several cousins. He is
also survived by his fiancé Stephanie Oliver, stepdaughters
Brittany Oliver and Kenyetta Jones-Baskervill and grand-daughter
Madison Ruffin.
He attended Pequannock High School and graduated in 1969. He
attended Jersey City State College and received his degree in
Music Performance and Education in 1973. Vinny had a passion for
music - forming the group "The Kittyhawks" with whom he
performed as the lead drummer in local venues. His second passion
was art, attending the Parsons School of Design where his
artistic talent led him to study animation under one of Walt
Disney's original animators, Mr. M.H. Neil.
Vincent Potuto leaves a legacy of integrity and outstanding
instruction to all those students who had the blessing of being
taught by him. Those students include members of The Cliffford J.
Scott Marching Band, The East Orange High School Animation
Program, The Vernon L. Davey Band, The Cicely L. Tyson Community
School of Performing and Fine Arts Animation Department and The
Bloomfield College Animation Department. He will forever live in
the hearts of his family, his colleagues and his dear friends.
From Vinny's FaceBook Page: "Always my
favorite pic - if I remember - we just got off the 22 hour bus
trip - 3 buses - got the keys to the rooms - we cleaned up and
took this pic outside the hotel - it was hot on the ground - then
off to perform at Walt Disney World..."
Uploaded to Vimeo in January, 2014. Vinny was
very proud of his students: "Congrats to my 5 senior
animation students! - Niajia Belton - Kamari Moore - Tatyana
Crute - Tyzion Jackson - David Gyambrah. Chosen to be screened at
the Twelfth Annual Garden State Film Festival in Atlantic City,
New Jersey, April 3-April 6th, 2014. Chosen to be screened at the
San Luis Obispo International Film Festival in California."
Tribute to Vincent
Potuto posted on YouTube by Todd Shelton
3/3/14 - Just thought I'd make a "higher
quality" contribution to the page. I digitally painted this
tribute to Mr. Potuto but without earlier notice the family
decided to use the lower quality portrait they found on Facebook.
This attached file is the PNG (higher quality) version of the
portrait with my signature and logo on it. They requested this
version and were supposed to use it but I guess the booklets were
printed before I could send it. You can put this one up if you
like. Thanks.
- Sierra Roberson
If any family, friends, students or faculty want
to share information, photos or memories of Vinny to celebrate
his life, you can e-mail them to [email protected]
and we will see that they get added to this page.
