William Nicholas Manno passed away peacefully on Friday, February 7, 2014 at JFK Medical Center in Edison. He was 53 years old. Born in Newark, he was raised in Short Hills and moved to Perth Amboy 10 years ago. Nick was a graduate of the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson and Wales University and employed as a chef for many years. Cooking and food were more of a passion than a career. Nick loved food and cooking and teaching about them. He also loved people, nature and animals. Among his greatest joys were his two "girls", his beloved rescue Coonhounds, Layla and Abigail. He was predeceased by his mother, Rose Sinisi Manno; and a brother, Arty Manno. Nick is survived by his awesome wife of ten years, Lisa Schmid-Manno; his father, Arthur Manno, of Coventry, RI; a stepson, Anthony Galasso, of Louisville, KY; two sisters, Joanne Bannister and her husband, Leo, of Coventry, RI and Marilyn Lavitola and her husband, Alan, of Point Pleasant; and three nieces and their families, Marilyn, Michelle and Marissa. A celebration of Nick's life will take place on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at Costello-Greiner Funeral Home, 44 Green Street at Barron Avenue in Woodbridge. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Old Friends Equine, (oldfriendsequine.org), 1841 Paynes Depot Road, Georgetown, KY 40324.