James Wasko

James W. Wasko, 82, of Verona NJ, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on June 11th, 2026 after a brief illness.

Born in Staten Island, NY on August 14th, 1943, Jim grew up in Brentwood, NY and was raised by his late Father, Peter Wasko, and Mother Kathryn (née Prebish) Wasko.

Jim and his wife Maryann had a fairy tale meeting. His grandmother lived next to Maryann’s mother’s house in Dupont, PA, and they grew up seeing each other as children when he would come from Long Island to visit his ‘Baba’. Later in their 30’s they reconnected when Jim finally worked up the nerve to ask her out on a date, a ride around Dupont on his motorcycle. That propitious motorcycle ride sealed the deal, and they have been inseparable since.

He graduated from Boston University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. A talented clarinet player, Jim could play any instrument. He was also selected to serve as the Drum Major in the Boston University Marching Band.

But it was the gift of teaching others music where Jim truly shined, spending 52 years in the profession. He was the band director at Central Islip (NY) High School and Middlebury (VT) Union High School. While director of bands at Westwood (NJ) Senior High School, he led a group of students on a performing tour of European capitals. From 1990 until his retirement in 2018, Jim served as the instrumental music teacher, AP Music Theory teacher, and director of bands at Montclair High School.

During his tenure in Montclair, he led the Concert Band, Orchestra, Jazz Thing, Hockey Band, and the Proud & Loud Mountie Marching Band. Jim organized performance and competition trips to Toronto, Florida, Virginia, the Berklee Jazz Festival in Boston, and the St. Patrick’s Day parades in NYC and Boston. Jim also loved leading the MHS Pep Band at Madison Square Garden to represent various universities in preseason NCAA basketball tournaments.

For 60 years of teaching and conducting, Jim inspired tens of thousands of people through his passion for music. While living in Middlebury, VT Jim started the community band, and has been the conductor of the Montclair Community Band for over 30 years, right up until his recent illness. He enjoyed arranging and orchestrating music for his musicians, especially taking pieces and symphonies composed for orchestra and arranging them for the Montclair Community Band.

In addition to teaching and arranging music, Jim was also an avid Red Sox fan, enjoyed tending to his extensive vegetable garden, a skilled handyman, an expert in picking blue crabs, and a prolific breakfast chef.

His love of music was only surpassed by the love he had for his family. Along with his wife Maryann, he is survived by his children Mark Motsko and wife Carolina, Alyson Wasko, and Adam Wasko, his grandchildren Pilar Motsko, Augustina Motsko, Jackson Wasko, and Zoë Wasko, as well as nieces Judi Sabach and Janice Sabach and nephews Eric Sabach and Joseph Sabach.

A Funeral Mass will be held on June 23, 2026 at 11:00am at St. Cassian church, 187 Bellevue Ave., Montclair NJ. A Celebration of Life event will be planned and announced at a later date.

Continuing Jim’s passion for music education, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to support the instrumental music program at Montclair High School via MFEE. Please visit the MFEE donation page using the link below and click “give in memory of” to add “Mr. Wasko” to your donation. https://givebutter.com/c/supportmfee.