Gandolfini Remembered as a 'True Jersey Guy' by Monmouth Fans

When James Gandolfini filmed in Monmouth County, fans from the Bayshore and Two River area who followed The Sopranos saga for years couldn't stay away.  

Paul Giglio posted a blog on Long Branch Patch on Thursday, the day after the news of Gandolfini's untimely death of a heart attack in Rome. It describes how the crew was filming in the Asbury Park and Sea Bright area. He found them in the old Paddock Lounge on Chelsea Avenue. "At first I did not realize it was the cast until I seen Michael Imperoli and Tony Cirico sitting down eating a sandwich with my mother," he said.

Up until then, he was unsure how he felt about the portrayal of Italians in Sopranos. "...after that day I looked the episodes in a different view," he wrote. 

There are other ties to Long Branch too. An episode of the Sopranos was filmed at a home on Ocean Terrace. In another, the local police got a mention. Jason Roebuck director of public safety for the Long Branch Police Department, said officers thought well of Gandolfini and the rough and tumble characters he played. 

"Even though Tony Soprano was on the other side of the law, all the cops loved the show," said Roebuck. "And James Gandolfini was a true Jersey guy."

When Gandolfini came to Keansburg to star in an independent film he was surrounded by fans outside the Amusement Park who took his photo and his autograph.

Justin Cocuzza recalled meeting the actor in a post on Holmdel-Hazlet Patch Facebook Thursday. 

"Yes he was extremely nice and took time to meet with all of the first responders who were there on scene for standby while shooting," Cocuzza wrote. "He also took time to say hello and take some pictures with the residents who were up on the Keansburg beach."

The 2008 film was filmed in part at the Keansburg Amusement Park. "James spent many months here shooting the Independent film Kiddie Ride that was released on video this year," the amusement park management wrote on its own Facebook page. "He was kind to all involved during those very cold winter months he spent at Keansburg shooting. R.I.P." The film later became known as Down the Shore.

Eddie Trebotica, owner of TJK Bar in Keansburg, said he remembers Gandolfini as a “good guy” who visited TJK nearly every single day after filming. The bar even got a copy of the film two weeks before the release, he recalled.

“He would stick around and sign all autographs for all the kids,” Trebotica said. “He was a gentleman.”

Pattie Cappuccio, who works a stand at the Keansburg Amusement Park, said her husband would come out in the winter months to see the filming.

“He will be missed,” she said.

But Gandolfini has left his mark in Keansburg, Cappuccio said. After the filming, the Kiddieland sign was donated to the boardwalk and hangs today atop a yellow and white ticket booth.
Stevie Van Zandt, formerly of Middletown, who played Silvio Dante in the original cast of the Sopranos and is also a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, posted a tribute on his own Facebook page that drew 668 comments, 8,200 likes and over 1,000 shares as of Thursday afternoon.

He said: "I have lost a brother and a best friend. The world has lost one of the greatest actors of all time. Maureen and I send our deepest sympathy and love to Deborah, Michael, Lily, and all of Jimmy's family." - Stevie

Christopher Sheldon, Anastasia Millicker and Elaine Van Develde contributed to this report.