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A police department in Hudson County has reopened an investigation into the disappearance of Nicholas James Maschuci, a Kearny man who went missing in 1974.
Maschuci, then 60 years old, was last seen in Kearny on Sept. 18, 1974, after leaving his home for a business meeting in Brooklyn, New York, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).
“After more than five decades, Nicholas Maschuci’s family still does not have answers, and this Department has not closed the book on his case,” said Sgt. John Fabula of the Kearny Police Department Detective Bureau.
At the time of his disappearance, Maschuci was driving a white, 1974 Mercury Grand Marquis.
Maschuci was born on Dec. 3, 1913. He was white, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, roughly 210 pounds with balding, gray hair and blue eyes. He wore gold-rimmed bifocal glasses and had an artificial right eye.
He was known to use the name “Nicky” or “Nicky Gary,” according to the NamUs system.
Fabula said given the amount of time that has passed, people who knew Maschuci may have since learned relevant information and might be willing to speak with investigators.
Even decades-old recollections may be valuable to police, Fabula said.
“We’ve been back through this case, and we believe there are people who remember more than they realize,” Fabula said.
“A conversation, a name, something that seemed unimportant in 1974 could matter now. We’re asking anyone with a memory of Nicholas or that time to reach out. Let us decide what’s useful,” Fabula said.
A Feb. 19, 1954, article in the now-defunct Courier-News of Bridgewater identified Maschuci as acting president of International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1247.
Anyone with information about Maschuci or his disappearance is asked to call the Kearny Police Department’s tips line at 201-283-5656 or email [email protected].
Tips can also be mailed to Kearny Police Department, Attn: Sgt. John Fabula, 237 Laurel Avenue, Kearny, NJ 07032.
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