Carmen Joseph Maggio, 84 of Clifton, died Friday June 4, 2010 after a long illness.

Carmen created the Rowe-Manse Emporium, a Clifton shopping destination that achieved such status as a marketing Mecca that merchant icons such as Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus, Macy's Edward Finkelstein, and Martha Stewart made pilgrimages there. From Cabbage Patch Dolls to Beanie Babies to exotically flavored jelly beans, no merchandising craze escaped notice. The Emporium, of which Carmen was the President for 47 years, was the outgrowth of a dream of his since the time he founded a little card and confectionary store at the Styertowne Shopping Center in 1957.

Carmen, a former member of the Upper Montclair Country Club, Clifton, was a WWII Veteran having served in the 10th Army, Battery C. 866th AAA, AW Battalion in the Hawaiian Islands, Leyte, Okinawa and the Philippine Islands from 1943 to 1946.

Beloved husband for 55 years of Edythe (Steib), devoted father of Rick and his wife Pam of Kinnelon. Loving grandfather of Samantha and Lindsey.

A Memorial Gathering will be held Wednesday, June 9, 2010, 6-9 PM at the Shook Funeral Home, 639 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton. A Funeral Service will be conducted at 7 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations made to the American Diabetes Association P.O. Box 11454 Alexandria, VA 22312, www.diabetes.org, would be greatly appreciated. www.shookfh.com