Obituary: Former Princeton Township Police Chief Anthony Pinelli

Pinelli, 1987

Former Princeton Township Police Chief Anthony Pinelli died Saturday. He was 73.

A 1956 graduate of Princeton High School, he joined the Princeton Township Police Department in 1961. He was a resident of Skillman until he moved to St. Ignatius, Montana, in 1991.

Pinelli served on the township police force for more than 26 years, beginning as a patrolman, serving as a juvenile officer, and working through the ranks to chief. He retired in 1987.

Moving to Montana was a lifelong dram for him and his wife Irene, and he was able to enjoy his love for wildlife by becoming a NAtional Park Ranger at the National Bison Range in Moiese Montana for four years. He spent the last 20 years of his life hunting, fishing and enjoying Montana.

Pinelli served in the National Guard for six years, was a member of the Mercer County 200 Club, the American Sportsman Club, the Mercer County Police Chiefs Association, the New JErsey STate ASsociation of Chiefs of Police, the State P.B.A., and was a lifetime member of P.B.A. Local 130.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Luemma Pinello, and their children Peter and Betsy Pinelli of Connecticut, Janice and Gary Schenck of Lawrenceville,  and Donna and Michael Post of Ewing. He is also survived by: grandchildren Kate, Sara, Antonio, Gavin, Reece, Talia and Emily; brother Frank and Shirely Pinelli, sister Lydia and Ralph Pirone, and sisters Eleanor and Anna Pinelli.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19 at the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home on Vandeventer Avenue in Princeton Borough. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 214 Nassau St. in Princeton and Pinelli will be buried in the Princeton Cemetery. Viewing hours are 2-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made out to Princeton Pettoranello Foundation 120 John Street Suite 3 Princeton New Jersey 08542.