Reynaldo (Rey) Morales, of Bernardsville, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2025. Born in 1944 in Santa Cruz, Manila in the Philippines to Benito and Generosa de los Santos Morales, Rey grew up in a lively household as one of six children. He graduated from Arellano High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Mapua Institute of Technology.

After immigrating to the United States, he earned his Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Rey’s career took him around the world – quite literally. At just 22, fresh out of college, he accepted a role as a water treatment engineer for a major U.S. contractor in what was then Saigon, Vietnam. That first step abroad sparked a lifetime of global work and adventure. After immigrating to New York in 1968, he began his U.S. career at Monsanto; and later contributed his engineering expertise at Stone & Webster, Foster Wheeler, and Cambrex/Rutherford Chemicals. His training and background as a chemical engineer gave him the rare opportunity to work and live in Italy, Nigeria, Spain, Morocco, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Venezuela. Among these travels, one journey proved most important – his time at Hydrotechnic Energy Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio, where he met Elenita (Ellen) Sangalang, who became his wife and partner in life for 53 loving years.

In 1972, they settled first in New York and later in New Jersey, where Rey eventually retired from U.S. Bronze in 2013. Bernardsville became home—a place filled with family, laughter, and many memorable Thanksgivings and Christmases. Rey lived a life defined by resilience, generosity, and quiet strength. After the sudden passing of his father, he stepped into the role of family provider, supporting his widowed mother, four brothers and two sisters, and helping ensure each sibling received a college education. As the first to immigrate to America, he opened doors for the Morales family, petitioning for his mother, siblings, and niece to join him and build new beginnings and future in the United States. He overcame serious health challenges with humor and grace, including a quintuple bypass surgery, a heart transplant he joked made him feel and think like a “24-year-old again,” and chemotherapy treatments.

Rey was preceded in death by his parents, Benito and Generosa (Osang); his sister, Zenaida (Zeny); his brother, Emerito (Emy); his daughter-in-law, Anna; a grandson, Nicolas; and the most loyal 4-legged Beagle mix friend, Hopkins. He leaves behind his devoted wife, Ellen; his sons, Godfrey, Allan, and Ronald; daughters-in-law Michele and Rebecca; and grandchildren Alexander, Katherine, Aris, Seren, and Maevee Rae. He is also survived by his siblings, Efren, Manuel, and Myrna. To his nieces and nephews – Genalin and Victorino (Jojo), Richard and Michele, Kristine and Oliver, Monica, Melissa and Mark, Timothy and Anya, Kevin and Estefania, and Vincent – he was their beloved and consistently “corny” Tito Rey; and to his other grandchildren – Jakob, Eliot and Gillian, Tylen and Archer – he was their doting and even “cornier” Lolo Rey, always ready with his dad/grandpa jokes and a warm smile.

Beyond his impressive career, Rey was a lover of life’s simple joys. As a boy, he took piano lessons and developed a fondness for classic movie musicals—The Sound of Music held top honors (except perhaps to Ron’s Graceland). He passionately believed that O Ilaw (Oh, The Light) deserved to be serenaded in every wedding. He adored traveling, dancing the boogie, and retelling jokes so good that he felt they deserved a “rewind.” Rey will be remembered for his sharp mind, generous heart, love of family, loyalty to friends, and an unwavering positive spirit. His legacy lives on in the family he lifted up, the friends he made across decades and continents, and every life he touched with kindness, humor, and grace.

Vistitation will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home – 101 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. A Funeral Mass will take place on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church – 111 Claremont Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924, followed by his interment at the Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum – 145 Mount Airy Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.

In lieu of flowers or monetary offerings, please consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to support children and their families fighting cancer to honor Reynaldo’s memory and to help continue his legacy of kindness and compassion. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.