Longtime Clark Resident, Councilman, Owner of Don's Pharmacy, Dies at 79

Don Labella, a longtime Clark resident and business owner, passed away on Sept. 23.

Labella served as a Clark councilman in the 1970s and 1980s and as Council President. He owned Don’s Pharmacy in the Clarkton Shopping Center for more than 20 years.  Labella was born and raised in Newark, and moved to Clark in 1960 and then to Oceanport in 1990.

Labella was also the President of Clark Little League for several years and led the fundraiser to build one of the field houses at the Little League field which has been named the Don Labella Field House in his honor.  He was a Board member of Clark Pop Warner, named Man of the Year by the Clark Chapter of UNICO and was a founding member of the Clark Pool Committee. 

Labella was also the town health inspector in town before becoming a council member.

Labella was husband of the late Mary Grace (nee Caruso); father of Rocco and wife Diane, Veronica and husband Pete Vizzi, Marigrace and the late Donald, Jr and wife Tina, according to his obituary on the Galante Funeral Home website. 

He was the grandfather of Nick, Pete, Donny, Holly, Michelle, Colleen and Danny. He is also survived by his brother Kenneth La Bella and his wife Linda. 

Labella's funeral will be held at the Galante Funeral Home, 2800 Morris Avenue in Union on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. 

His funeral mass will be held at St. Helen Church in Westfield at 10 a.m. with entombment Hollywood Memorial Park. Visitation is Friday from 2-4 and 6-9. 

In lieu of flowers donations in Don's memory can be made to the St. Michael's R.C. Church Scholarship Fund, 796 Ocean Avenue Long Branch, NJ 07740.