Lt. Col. Matthew W. Morabito, USAF, Ret., 83, of Clifton, passed away on August 6, 2015. Born in Jersey City, he lived there for 40 years before moving to Clifton. Colonel Morabito served for forty years beginning in 1949 with the NJ National Guard. A short time thereafter he entered the Regular Army's 101st Airborne Division as a Paratrooper. After jump school he attended Ranger Training working mainly with weapons and explosives. In August of 1950 he was shipped to Korea where he saw 14 months of service. He received the Nation's second highest honor, The Silver Star with "V" for Valor, presented by General MacArthur. He received the Legion of Merit, his 2nd Presidential Citation, 3 purple hearts, and was promoted to the highest enlisted rank just before his 19th birthday in the House of Representatives, awarded by President Eisenhower. When his Army enlistment was up he decided to join the Air Force. Colonel Morabito holds many awards, but truly takes pride in his life membership with the Air Force Association, the DAV, VFW, Airborne Ranger and Paratrooper Assoc., the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and from the Republic of France, A Knight of the Legion of Honor, Chevalier. Beloved husband of the late Marlene Ann (Gangi), who passed away in 2013. Dear brother in law of Suzanne Cook of Clifton. Loving uncle of several nieces and nephews. Colonel Morabito's remains will be entombed next to his wife with Military Honors on Thursday 10 AM at Calvary Cemetery, Paterson.