Roy J. Fanucci
OBITUARY
Roy J. Fanucci, 83, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2026 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, surrounded by the warmth and love of his family.
Born in Jessup, PA, Roy was the son of the late Attilio and Ada Giombetti Fanucci. A proud native of the region, he graduated from Jessup High School before pursuing a lifelong passion for the sciences. Roy earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Scranton and later achieved a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Seton Hall University.
Roy dedicated the majority of his professional life to the Department of Defense, serving as a Quality Assurance Representative. In this role, he acted as a critical link in national security, ensuring that the equipment and materials used by our nations service members met the highest standards of safety and reliability.
As an undergraduate student at the University of Scranton he took particular pride in his specialized research involving a modification of the Guthrie test for phenylketonuria, which proved instrumental in the detection of severe mental retardation in newborns.
Beyond his professional achievements, Roy was a dedicated outdoorsman who found peace as an avid hunter and fisherman. His vigor for life remained evident well into his later years; he continued playing racquetball until age 78. Proud of his Italian heritage, he ran in the Festa dei Ceri on St. Ubaldo Day in Jessup and maintained a lifelong passion for the opera.
Roy will be remembered not only for his analytical mind but also for his generous spirit, his quiet strength, and his unwavering devotion to his family.
He is survived by his wife Rosemary, his daughter Erin, his brother Dennis, his nephew, Mark and niece, Marlena Shamon and her children Gabriella and Gianna, and Great-Great Nephew, Jace.
The funeral will be held Saturday, February 28th with mass at 10 AM at St. Michael’s Church, Queen of Angels Parish, Jessup. Interment, St. John’s Cemetery, Jessup. Friends may call from 9 AM until time of the mass, at the church. Arrangements are under the care of the Margotta Funeral Home. For online condolences visit, “www.margottafuneralhomes.com.”
Roy was an avid dog lover and enjoyed the company of his three Weimaraners Stormy, Max and Potter. In lieu of flowers, feel free to make a contribution to your local pet shelter in his name.
Roy J. Fanucci
February 21, 2026