Marco Cera, Former FAMS Principal, Dead at 39

Marco Cera, a father of two daughters and former  principal, died Friday morning according to multiple sources.

Cera, 39, had served as principal at FAMS from 2008 to 2010.

Members of the Franklin Lakes School Community were notified of the former principal's death in an email from Franklin Lakes School Superintendent Frank Romano on Friday.

Students and colleagues alike remembered Cera fondly.

"I have never met another principal quite as kind and caring as [Mr. Cera,]"  said Angelica Marra, a sophomore at Indian Hills High School who attended FAMS while Cera was principal. "He loved the school he worked for and all the students who went there. He gave FAMS and all of its students one hundred percent dedication, and he touched everybody in their own way, and changed us all for the better. He will be greatly missed, and I am proud to have had the privilege to meet him."

Larry Loprete, a member of the Franklin Lakes Board of Education, remembered Cera as a "great guy" who made it a point to reach out to the students at FAMS.

"Marco made it a point to know each and every student by name. In doing so during such a transitional period for young adults, he made each and every student feel special," Loprete said. 

"The outpouring of love and support is a true indication of the positive lasting impact he made on our community. He was loved by faculty, parents and students and will always remain in our hearts," he added.

Loprete relayed a story he heard about a young girl several years ago who was petrified about her first week in middle school.  

"On the second day of school she saw Mr. Cera, who knew her name, in the hallway and he told her he knew a shortcut to her class," Loprete said. "There was no shortcut... but when the girl went home that day after school, she told her mom she'd never be nervous again. 

"That's the kind of guy Marco was," Loprete said. 

Mackey Funeral Home is coordinating funeral arrangements for the Boonton native.

Visitation for Cera will be held on Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Boonton. Mass will be held for him on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Mount Carmel.

Cera was diagnosed with mesothelioma last August, sources said.

Cera resigned from his position as FAMS principal in October of 2010 to take on the job of principal at Briarcliff Middle School in Mountain Lakes in Morris County.

Cera was the father of two daughters Gabriella, 9, and Nina, 7; and was married to his wife Danielle for 11 years.

He began his career in education at Pompton Lakes High School before moving to Kittatinny, Madison, then Franklin Lakes for further employment. At the time of his death he was principal of Briarcliff Middle School in Mountain Lakes.

A call to the Mountain Lakes School District was not immediately returned Friday morning. 

He held a bachelor's degree from Providence College and a master's degree from Montclair State University and was pursuing a doctorate at Seton Hall University when he died.

Memorial contributions in Marco's name may be made to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, 1317 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314.

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