Obituary of The Honorable Teofilo "Tito" Montañez

The Honorable Teofilo "Tito" Montañez, JMC, 67, of Glassboro passed away suddenly on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at his residence. Born in Manhattan, NY he moved to South Jersey over 50 years ago. He graduated from Glassboro State College (Rowan University) where he met the love of his life. He attended Seton Hall Law School with his sister Angelina. Judge Montañez was a founding partner of Montañez & Montañez, Law Offices in Hammonton and Montañez Law Offices in Vineland. In 2013, he was appointed Chief Judge of the Vineland Municipal Court. He also served the City of Camden as an Associate Judge for 24 years. He was the first Puerto Rican Judge appointed in the City of Camden. He was a loving husband, devoted father and adoring grandfather. He enjoyed spending time with his family and the "occasional" cigar. He was a trusted advisor to all and he was a source of stories and laughter. His memberships included: American Judges Association, Camden County Municipal Court Judges Association, American Bar Association; Atlantic County Bar Association; Hispanic Bar Association, Camden County Hispanic Bar Association, a member of the Supreme Court of N.J. District I Ethics Committee, the U.S. Attorney General's List of Referral of Conflict Matters and Co-Chair Hispanic National Bar Convention 1992. Judge Montañez' past affiliations included the following: Board Member of L.E.A.P. Academy, Member of the Supreme Court of New Jersey Attorney Ethics Committee District One, Member of the Supreme Court of New Jersey Minority Concerns Committee, Member of the Ranking Committee for President of the United States Award for Excellence for 1996, Second Lieutenant Civil Air Patrol, Hammonton Chamber of Commerce, Guest Lecturer to Colleges, High Schools and Community Affairs, Member of the EOF Community Advisory Board, Delegate of the Puerto Rican Congress of N.J., Board member for the University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ for Southern NJ Community Liaison Council, Board Member & 1st Vice-President of Hispanic Alliance of Atlantic County (HAAC), Legal Advisor for Hispanos Unidos of Hammonton, Legal Advisor for Latin Congress of Atlantic City, Board member for the Atlantic Community College Board Legal Assistant & ParaLegal Studies and Co-Chairman of Hispanic Political Assembly. Judge Montañez was predeceased by his parents, Teofilo Montañez and Ana Delia Melendez, as well as his brother, Carlos Melendez. He is survived by his loving wife, Sandra Milagros Montañez (née Calderón); his two daughters, Marcia Montañez-Cathey (Ray); Juliana Montañez (Edwin Barrita) his grandchildren, Reina Milagros Cathey, Cruz Teofilo Cathey, Cassian Edwin Cathey, Juliette Delia Barrita; Adelina Maria Barrita; his sisters, Elba Perez (Agapito), Angelina Montañez (the late Santos Irizarry-Rodriguez); his brothers, Hector Melendez (Frances); Robert Montañez (Dalquis); his brothers in law, Edwin Calderón, Edgar Calderón, John Calderón; Nelson Calderón and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated, Saturday, October 28, 2023 12:00 PM at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish, Church of St. Joseph's 226 French St., Hammonton. Entombment will follow in Greenmount Cemetery. Viewings will be held Friday, October 27, 2023 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Carnesale Funeral Home, 202 S. Third St., Hammonton, NJ and on Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish Church of St. Joseph's.