Obituary of Matthew S. Ferroni

Matthew S. Ferroni, 36 years, of Berlin NJ, passed away suddenly on November 9, 2021. Beloved son of Richard and Olga (née Babij) Ferroni. Beloved husband of Deanna Carroll. Loving father of Layla, Finn, Cora and baby Ferroni on the way. Dear brother of Steven Ferroni (Nicole) and Jennifer Ferroni (Mark). Cherished uncle of Madison, Ashley and Nixon.
 

Matt was born on June 19, 1985 to his adoring parents, Olga and Rich Ferroni. He was the baby of the family and had so much love and admiration for his big sister Jen and his big brother Steve.   

From a very young age, it was clear that Matt had a love of all critters. He had a small zoo and was always showing up at home with new and different pets. A parents dream. This interest continued from childhood, through teenage years, into college and adulthood when it became a really good idea to leave the bar, head straight to Petsmart and see who might be inhabiting their enclosures and lucky enough to come home. Matt is survived by his dog Arlo, his cat, Mishka, and two turtles, Herb and Cyclops, who will surely be missing Matt's loving care.

After his collection of creatures felt complete, it was only natural to start acquiring a bunch of tiny two-legged wild things. Matt's legacy is bound and determined to live on through his children, Layla, Finn, Cora and impending Baby Ferroni. It is undeniable that he loved his kiddos with all his heart and would move heaven and earth for them. 

Matt loved his wife, Deanna Carroll (yes, still Carroll, much to his dismay) and often made her feel like the luckiest girl in the world. So much so, he had a difficult time ever telling her no... yet another reason why he may have ended up caring for more souls than he anticipated. 

He was a big enthusiast of bathrobes and slippers in the cooler weather, bonsai trees, as well as pitcher and carnivorous plants (please send help, reverse osmosis water or rainwater to ensure their survival). No Sunday dinner, birthday soiree, holiday or family gathering was complete without Matt taking a snooze on whatever surface he happened to land on. Work hard, play hard, crash hard. 

Matt was fortunate enough to silence the outside noise and listen closely to his hearts desires and ultimately chose a career he had a burning passion for. After graduating from Stockton University with a BS in Biology, he began his career at Adventure Aquarium in their water quality lab. Over his 11 years at the aquarium, he made lifelong friendships while climbing the ladder through various ranks of biologist and ultimately ending his career there as an Assistant Curator of Fish and Invertebrates. While it was an extremely difficult decision for him to leave this family he built at the aquarium, he was ready to spread his wings and fly as the Co-founder at TSM Aquatics where he followed best industry practices and established a standard 30+ day quarantine process for marine life. Since he didn't have enough on his plate, he also ran a side business, Reef Pro Aquatics. Through this aquarium maintenance business, he was able to work with a variety of individuals, as well as commercial clients over the span of years, which further deepened his connections and credibility in the hobby. He was also fortunate enough to travel on a shark tagging expedition with OCEARCH, as well as traveling to the Florida Keys to do some work with the Coral Restoration Foundation. I think it is safe to say his loss will be felt throughout the industry. 

If you knew Matt, you know his wheels were always turning and his mind was always moving a mile a minute. In the same way, he greeted death with the same gusto as any other task he was encountered with - quick, fast and in a hurry. Matt's soul was liberated from his physical being on November 09, 2021. It has become very obvious that his reach was far and wide. He impacted and made a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to cross paths with him. He always treated you like a friend whether you were a customer, acquaintance, colleague or longtime pal and would never hesitate to lend a helping hand or listening ear.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Tuesday from 11:00AM to 1:00PM at the COSTANTINO-PRIMO FUNERAL HOME, 231 W. WHITE HORSE PIKE, BERLIN NJ 08009. Memorial service 1:00PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting contributions to Matt’s children for their future, checks may be made out to Deanna Carroll and sent to the funeral home at the address above. To leave lasting condolences or photos, please use the links on this page.