John Toscano

   John "Mr. T" Toscano, died Saturday, May 26, at his home with his daughters.
   Born in Hackensack, he attended Hackensack Elementary, Lodi High School and went to National Agricultural College (Delaware Valley) in Doylestown, Pa.
   An interest in dairy farming brought him to Cranbury in 1960, where he bought a 110-year old dairy farm. Dairy farming grew into a plant nursery. He received his master’s degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick. He then went on to teach Earth Science and developed the horticulture program at Princeton Regional High School in Princeton, which is still being taught today. He inspired his students by giving them the opportunity to appreciate the wonders of nature. He was a horticulture teacher who spent his life growing plants and making the world a more beautiful place. He taught for 27 years and retired in 1990. He was loved by all of his students.
   He was also a member of the New Jersey Association of Nurserymen, Inc. and loved being part of the New Jersey Flower Show for years.
   He was an active member of St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church Parish, and Knights of Columbus in Hightstown honorable member for 32 years.
   His parents, John ‘Bunny’ and Clara Toscano, his brother, Joseph Anthony of Little Ferry, and his first wife, Rita Marie Gargiulo, are deceased.
   He is survived by his second wife, Elaine; his three daughters, Nancie and William Saraceni, Judith and Darryl Bobletz, and Sallie Toscano, and dear friend, Jackie Bleasdale; his grandchildren, Daniel, fiancée, Ashley, Victoria and Justin; and his stepsons, Eric, Scott, and Todd Marshall.
   Funeral Services will be held 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 1, at A.S. Cole & Son Co. Funeral Home, 22 North Main St., Cranbury. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church, 251 Franklin St., Hightstown.
   Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.
   In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the "Mr. T." Horticulture Scholarship Fund in memory of John Toscano and mailed to Princeton High School, 151 Moore St., Princeton, N.J. 08540. Checks made payable to: Princeton Regional School Scholarship Fund (Mr. T). Please plant a tree in his memory and keep his gentle spirit growing in all of our hearts.