Luigi Vellucci of Rutherford passed away on Wednesday, October 17 at the age of 99 from natural causes after battling illness for several years.

Mr. Vellucci was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1913, the second of six children born to Remigio and Vincenza (née Marcolivio) Vellucci, who immigrated to the United States from Bovino, Italy in 1912.

Mr. Vellucci made his career as an opera singer, where he achieved some renown as a comprimario tenor, the operatic equivalent of a character actor. He made his professional debut in 1948 as Don Basilio in the New York City Opera's production of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro. He sang with the New York City Opera from 1948 until 1955 and again from 1960 until he retired from singing professionally in the early 1970s.

In addition to his work with the New York City Opera, he performed with many professional opera companies in the 1950s and 1960s, including the Chicago Lyric Opera, Havana Opera, NBC Opera and the Montreal Opera Guild. All told, his repertoire consisted of over 80 roles in five languages in opera, musical comedy, operetta, and Gilbert and Sullivan productions. He can also be heard on two commercially available recordings.

After retiring from performing, he taught privately, led church choirs, and volunteered in public schools.

Mr. Vellucci was predeceased by his brothers Paul, Tony, Giulio, and Romeo. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Miriam (née Broderick), his son, Michael, his daughter in-law Teresa (nee Boyle), his grandchildren, Isabella and Aiden, and his sister Floria Tosca Bianchi.

The family will receive visitors on Sunday, October 21 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Collins Calhoun Funeral Home, 19 Lincoln Avenue, Rutherford, N.J. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the First Presbyterian Church, also in Rutherford.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

For condolences please visit www.collinscalhoun.com