clifton merchant magazine - may 2015

Clifton Merchant •May 2015 3

May 2015• Clifton Merchant4

Roll Call of Fallen HeroesThose Killed in America’s Wars

NJ’s Bugler Robert KrupinskiThe Solemn Final Salute for a Veteran

The Lives of Joe VerderosaFrom Pollywog to Fire Chief

Debbie Oliver to be FetedSt. Andrew’s Gala on May 12

Ralph Cinque Takes the ReinsNamed New Fighting Mustang Coach

Ameti Voted Best PizzaClifton Masonic Lodge Contest

What’s Inside?14

24

30

42

58

66

76

On V-E Day, May 8 1945Clifton Reacts to War’s End in Europe

Table of Contents

Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko

© 2015 Tomahawk Promotions

Visit cliftonmerchant.comfor current & past issues

973-253-4400 • [email protected]

Art DirectorKen Peterson

Graphic DesignerAly Ibrahim

Business ManagerGabriella Marriello

Editorial InternMariel Vazquez

1288 Main Ave., Downtown Clifton, NJ 07011

Irene Jarosewich, Tom Szieber Michael Gabriele, Jack De Vries

Contributing Writers

16,000 Magazinesare distributed to hundreds of

Clifton Merchants on the first

Friday of every month.

Subscriptions

$27 / year / $45 for 2

Call 973-253-4400

Pages 68-73Dance, Music & Arts


Soccer teammates at CHS in 1964,they were fallen soldiers in 1967.

In the fall of 1964, after a 25-year hia-

tus, soccer was re-established as a boys’

varsity sport at CHS (the program had

been dropped in 1939). The soccer team,

under the leadership of head coach

Severin Palydowcyz, and team captain

Mike Osman, achieved a .500 record.

Robert Kruger and Bohdan ‘Bernie’

Kowal were members of that Mustang

soccer squad.

Like Kruger, Kowal died in Vietnam.

Born in Germany on May 25, 1946,

Bohdan was the son of Stanley and

Helen Kowal, Ukrainian immigrants

who had been forced into slave labor by the Germans

during World War II. The Kowals came to the United

States in 1949 and lived on Paulison Ave. The family,

which included two younger sons, Michael and John,

were parishioners of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic

Church in Passaic. Kowal graduated from CHS in June

1965. In December of that year he was drafted into the

Army. After boot camp, he began his tour of duty in

Vietnam in July 1966, assigned to C Company, 4th

Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 25th Division.

Much like he did for Kruger, local historian Richard

DeLotto searched for information on Kowal’s service

in Vietnam. Kowal, a rifleman, was killed by enemy

small arms fire on Saturday, April 8, 1967, in Hua

Nghia Province—just one month before his CHS team-

mate Kruger was slain.

MEMORIAL DAY

1964teammates in 1967fallen soldiers in

Bohdam Kowal and Robert Kruger.


Although DeLotto was unable to locate Kowal fam-

ily members in the Clifton area, his research did uncov-

er a newspaper article that quoted a grief-stricken

Helen Kowal at the time of her son’s death.

“He never had anything. He never went anywhere or

had a chance to enjoy anything,” she said. “Why do

they take the boys so young, when there are so many

older men around?”

As did many soldiers and sailors serving in foreign

lands, Bernie was homesick and expressed this

heartache to his parents in a series of letters. One note

mentioned how much he hated being in Vietnam.

In one of his final letters, he wrote to his parents:

“I’ll be home in 103 more days.”

Two CHS graduates, two soccer players, two guys

named Robert and Bernie, two young men of Clifton

lost nearly 50 years ago in Vietnam. We honor their

memory and service.

Varieties• Potatoes & Cheese• Potato • Sauerkraut• Pot Cheese• Mushroom• Pot Cheese & Potato• Broccoli• Spinach• Pizza • Apple• Prune • Cabbage• Apricot & Cheese• Broccoli & Spinach

HOMEMADEPIROGI

Come to The Famous & Original (from Lexington Ave)...

Call forHours

1295 Main Ave • Downtown Clifton 973.340.0340

WWW.HOMEMADEPIROGI.COM

Across from DeLuxe Cleaners

NEW! Great for Parties... Hot, Homemade Empanadas!

You Don’t Have to Wait Until Friday to Eat Pirogies !!!

Kneeling from left: Florian Cortese, Jerry Butkus, Walt Yurcheniuk, Irving Zeller, Chet Guzik, Charles Rybny, GaryShaffer, Al Jurkewicz, Jim Watson, Jerry Greenberg, Ron Mack, Coach Severin Palydowcyz. Standing from left: JohnStolarz, John Debiak, Bohdan Kowal, Brent Del Hagen, Donald Winkler, Bill Vrable, Dennis Cullen, John Kidon, BobKruger, Mike Osman, Felix Semtac, Ken Wanio, Larry Twoomey, Randy Rutler, Ed Augostoni, Peter Dobko, Fred Sadrak,Greg Petruska, Ed Marzelis, Mike Duch, and Elie Sabba.


MEMORIAL DAY

It began as a mild, uneventful day in thespring of 1967 when 15-year-old Crystal

Kruger looked out of the front window of

her home on West Second Street and saw

three men approaching.

Rev. Paul Boester, their pastor from

Clifton’s old Trinity Lutheran Church, was

walking side by side with two men in mili-

tary uniforms. Crystal, along with her grand-

mother, Frieda, her mom, Antoinette, and

brother Roger, waited for the knock on the

door. The room was still. No one spoke a

word. They all knew that they were about to

receive tragic, dreadful news.

In 2005, local historian and retired Clifton

Fireman Rich DeLotto was having a long-

distance phone call with a decorated Marine

veteran in California named Fred Monahan.

DeLotto, at the time, was on a heartfelt

quest, doing research on city soldiers killed

in Vietnam.

As their conversation unfolded and

became more specific and intense, DeLotto

asked Monahan if he remembered a particu-

lar young Marine from Clifton. DeLotto

mentioned the Marine’s name and there was

a long, uneasy silence on the phone line.

Finally, Monahan answered: “Do I

remember him? I was one of the guys who

put him in a body bag.”

Died A Hero

By Michael C. Gabriele


MEMORIAL DAY

One Courageous MarineOf the men listed on the Clifton war monu-

ment, among those that died in Vietnam, one of

the youngest to be killed in action was 18-year-

old Private First Class (Pfc.) Robert H. Kruger

Jr., a member of CHS Class of 1966.

Kruger enlisted in the Marines immediately

after graduating and left for basic training. This

period was the height of the Vietnam conflict,

with over 375,000 American soldiers stationed

in Southeast Asia. It also was the period when

protests against the war fomented political

strife and social tensions. This was the turbu-

lent Sixties and the polarizing “Generation

Gap” was creating bitter divisions in towns,

families and throughout the United States.

Kruger arrived in Vietnam in January 1967. He

was a member of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd

Regiment of the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam.

According to research by DeLotto, Kruger and his

company were on maneuvers in a place known as Hill

881 North, Quang Tri province, in the region of the

country known as Khe Sanh. This was where the epic

“Battle of Khe Sanh” took place during the first half

of 1968.

DeLotto, via e-mail, obtained the text of an affi-

davit from Monahan, issued to a military review

panel, titled: “To Whom It May Concern: One

Courageous Marine.” The statement, confirmed

under oath, is a sad, harrowing remembrance that

depicts Kruger’s valiant service during combat.

Monahan stated that Echo Company “was posi-

tioned on a hilltop vacated by an enemy unit our size.

We moved into the freshly dug fighting holes and

bunkers constructed by the North Vietnamese Army

(NVA) unit that had left just hours earlier.” He

recalled that in the early morning hours of May 3,

1967, during thunderstorm with heavy rain, “the

north side of our position was attacked by the NVA

with mortars, rocket propelled grenades, and rifle

fire,” which initially killed 12 Marines.

Rifleman Kruger and another Marine were

assigned from the east side of the hill to strengthen

the weakened perimeter on the north side. Four NVA

soldiers most likely sprung out of the dense

undergrowth killing Kruger’s buddy. One NVA

Bobby Kruger as a lad with parents Robert, Antoinette

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valorin action against an enemy force that can be bestowed

upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of

the United States.

The Medal of Honor is presented to a recipient by

the President of the United States of America. In

accordance with United States Code Title 10, Subtitle

C, Part II, Chapter 567, the President may award and

present the medal to those that distinguish themselves

conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk

of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Created in 1861 during the Civil War, over 3,460

medals have been awarded to 3,446 different people

(there have been a number of double recipients).

Among Vietnam War veterans, more than 245 Medals

of Honor have been awarded.

“I believe Pfc. Robert Krugershould be posthumously decorat-ed for his action that morning.”

-Frederick G. Monahan

MEMORIAL DAY


soldier was killed before both Marines’

rifles jammed enabling the remaining three

NVA to capture Kruger. Monahan said he

and the remaining members of the Marine

company could hear Kruger shouting. But

before they could react, they heard a

grenade explode.

Eventually, the enemy attack was

repulsed and when the sun rose Monahan

and the other Marines walked down the hill

to survey the battle site. They came to a

small clearing and found four bodies—

Kruger and three NVA soldiers. They determined

Kruger must have pulled the grenade pin ring with his

teeth while he was being captured in order to “take out”

the three enemy soldiers, who would have gone back

up hill to attack the other Marines.

“I remember it like it was yesterday and have told

the story the same way over and over for the last 47

years,” Monahan stated in the affidavit. “I believe Pfc.

Robert Kruger should be posthumously decorated for

his action that morning.” The affidavit was signed:

“Sincerely and respectfully submitted, Frederick G.

Monahan, National Commander, 2014-2015, Legion of

Valor of the United States of America.”

Clifton did name a cul-de-sac, Kruger Court—locat-

ed just off of Colfax Avenue, one block from CHS—in

honor of its fallen son.

It’s Hard to HandleKruger’s sister, Crystal, said she and her husband,

John Hayes—who was a friend of Robert—met with

DeLotto and are most thankful for his efforts to gather

information. “Years ago, when we were first told Robert

was killed, we didn’t get many details,” she recalled.

“Thanks to Rich DeLotto, this information about my

brother and how brave he was is coming to light.”

Though grateful to DeLotto, she did confess to hav-

ing mixed emotions about learning the full story of her

brother’s fate. Originally, the family was told Robert

lost his life due to mortar fire in Quang Tri province.

“After all these years, it’s good to know what really

happened to Robert, but it’s also hard to handle. It’s

very sad, but very impressive how he conducted him-

self. He exploded the grenade to save other soldiers.

We’re very proud of Robert.”

She said her brother joined the Marines in order to

get financial benefits to go to college. Her dad, Robert

Kruger Sr. died in 1963; her mom passed away in 1970.

John Hayes said he knew Robert since their days as

friends at Christopher Columbus Junior High School.

“Robert was a good athlete,” Hayes said. “When we

were in high school, he played soccer and I became

involved in track. He was an even-tempered guy and a

friendly kid.”

A longtime neighbor and family friend, Hayes—who

grew up on West Fourth Street—recalled being invited

to have supper at the Kruger house once a week.

“Robert was a great guy, but he also was a prankster.

He would joke with Crystal and play tricks on her, like

a typical big brother.” Hayes graduated CHS one year

after Robert, joined the Air Force and also served in

Vietnam. He and Crystal were married in 1973.

Marine Pfc. Robert Henry Kruger Jr. was born July

19, 1948. He’s buried in Beverly National Cemetery,

located in Burlington County. Originally from Passaic,

Kruger lived in Clifton most of his life. He attended

School No. 4 and Christopher Columbus. While at

CHS, he played on the varsity soccer team and enlisted

in the Marines before his high school graduation and

started his service one week after commencement cere-

monies in June 1966. He and his family worshipped at

the now-disbanded Trinity Lutheran Church in Clifton.

Should Kruger be honored posthumously with a

medal for his valor in the field of combat? It’s a ques-

tion that historian DeLotto said he intends to pursue.

“He sacrificed himself,” DeLotto said of Kruger. “He

was only 18 years old. What must have been going

through his mind when he was captured?”

John and Crystal Hayes, cousin Marianne Belotti, Elsa and RogerKruger at the Clifton dedication of Kruger Court.


We’ll never know, but we do know that, in those

final, fateful moments, Robert Kruger, the young man

from Clifton, was a brave Marine.

Man on a MissionWhat drives Rich DeLotto and his passion to gath-

er information on Clifton’s deceased military heroes? It

was DeLotto’s dedicated work as a military historian

that sparked the interest to develop this article—a fit-

ting tribute to a fallen Clifton Marine, as the city pre-

pares for its annual Memorial Day ceremonies.

A 1971 graduate of CHS, DeLotto said that while he

himself didn’t serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, he feels

inspired to help piece together the stories of those who

never returned home. He recalled how the Vietnam War

sparked bitter controversy and protests throughout the

country, and that the 1970s were years when, unfortu-

nately, people in the military, especially returning

Vietnam veterans, were held in low esteem.

Nearly all U.S. military personnel had left Vietnam

by the end of 1973. However, in the absence of

American troops, fighting continued between the

armies of North and South Vietnam.

Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, fell on April

30, 1975. One year later the government of South

Vietnam formally surrendered to the North, which

eventually led to the country uniting as the Socialist

Republic of Vietnam.

Throughout America, the negative fallout and emo-

tional turmoil from the Vietnam War became an unfair

burden to bear for those who served, even though they

served with distinction and honor. Those who remem-

ber that era of the 1970s know that, for many years,

there were no gala celebrations or grand parades to wel-

come home the troops returning from Vietnam, or thank

them for their service. This was a sad, contentious peri-

od in the country’s history.

Even though he didn’t say it himself, it seems clear

that DeLotto’s patriotic fervor and efforts as a local his-

torian represent his way to redress that post-Vietnam

era and pay tribute to veterans. Working as a private cit-

izen without fanfare, he is determined that those who

served should not be forgotten.

“People that served our country and made the ulti-

mate sacrifice deserve that respect,” he said. His inter-

est in the life of Kruger is one example of his passion.


11am Services at War Monument, Main Memorial Park

Memorial Day Monday, May 25

Events to AttendSunday, May 24

• 7 pm - Volunteers decorate around War Monument in Main Memorial Park with American Flags

Monday, May 25

• 6 am - Avenue of Flags Set-up, City Hall

• 8:15 am - Fire Dept. Service, Brighton Rd.

• 9 am - Memorial Day Parade,Hepburn Rd.

• 9:30 am - Allwood Memorial, Chelsea Park

• 11 am - City Memorial Service,Main Memorial Park

• Noon - Military Order of PurpleHearts, Clifton Library

• 12:30 pm - Post 347,Clifton Rec Center

• 2 pm - Athenia Veterans, Huron Ave.

• 6 pm - Avenue of FlagsTake Down at City Hall

Questions? Call973-470-5757


World War OneLouis AblezerAndrew BlahutTimothy CondonJohn Crozier

Orrie De GrootOlivo De LucaItalo De MattiaAugust De RoseJurgen DykstraSeraphin FioriRalph GallassoOtto Geipel

Mayo Giustina

Peter HoroschakEmilio Lazzerin Joseph LiechtyJacob Morf, Jr.William Morf

Edwin C. PetersonRobert H. RoatAlfred Sifferlen

James R. StoneCarmelo UricchioAngelo VaretoniMichael VernarecCornelius VisbeckIgnatius Wusching

Bertie ZanettiOtto B. Zanetti

• Bronze Plaques• Monuments• Porcelain Photos• Benches• Mausoleums• Cemetery Lettering• Cremation Urns• Pet Urns

973-471-5008 • 800 Broad St., Clifton

Diamond Memorials Diamond Memorials

Find our selection online!

diamondmemorialsinc.com

We’re Here to Discuss Your NeedsMon-Fri: 10 am- 4pm • Sat: 10 am-3 pm

Starting below andorganized by the warin which they served,we have again published

the name of every Clifton

man who died while in

service to our nation.

Selling replicas of the original Flanders’ poppy originated in some of theallied countries immediately after the Armistice of WWI. Disabled veteransmake these artificial flowers, and earn a small income after their work issold by members of local veterans posts on Memorial Day.

Monday, May 25Memorial Day


World War TwoJoseph SperlingCharles Peterson Thomas Donnellan

Jerry TothFrank LennonJoseph CarboyJulius WeisfeldEdward LadwikIsrael Rabkin

Peter PagnilloHarold WeeksWilliam WeeksSalvatore Favata Herman AdamsEdward Kostecki

Charles Hooyman, Jr.Salvatore MichelliRichard NovakJames Potter

Adam LiptakJohn Van Kirk

Carlyle MalmstromFrancis GormleyCharles StanchakJoseph Ladwik

Karl GermelmannRobert Stevens

Albert TauWilliam Scott

Benjamin PuzioJames Van NessGregory Jahn

Nicholas StanchakFrank Smith, JrCarl BredahlDonald YahnJoseph Belli

Edwin KalinkaStanley SwiftCharles Lotz

Joseph PrebolWalter NazarBenedict Vital

Thaddeus BukowskiLeo GrossmanMichael Kashey

Stephen MessineoJohn JanekJohn YanickHerbert Gibb

William NalesnikJoseph SowmaBronislaus PitakHarry TamboerJohn Olear

John KoropchakJoseph NugentSteven GombocsThomas Gula

Raymond CurleyHarry EarnshawJames Henry


The memory will live forever.Over the past year, we have hadthe privilege of serving the fam-ilies of many veterans. Inrecognition of the service theseveterans rendered to their coun-try, we would like to show ourappreciation this MemorialDay. In memory of their livesand their service, we recall...

• Elroy Bakelaar• William Cannady • Jack Dominick Ciminello • Frank J. Cuccaro• Francisco Sanchez Delgado• Louis De Simone• Roger W. Frey• Walter Gardzielik • Ronald S. Genardi

• Joseph Mendillo• John F. Mingione• Charles Orlando• Monserrate Quinones • Sal Scafidi• Donald F. Schwarz• Dr. Marvin H. Soalt• Michael Urti• Michael A. Valentino

470 Colfax Ave., Clifton

973-249-6111www.marroccos.com

James J. MarroccoManager, NJ Lic No. 3320

Michael A. Waller - Director

John Opuda Jr. - Director


John LaytonCharles MessineoJoseph PetruskaBogert TerpstraJohn Kotulick

Peter VroegindayMichael SobolDonald SangAndew Sanko

George Zeim, Jr.Robert Van Liere Vernon BrosemanHarold O’KeefeEdward Palffy

Dennis SzabadayLewis CosmanoStanley Scott, Jr.Charles Hulyo, Jr.Arnold Hutton Frank BarthJohn KanyoBryce Leighty

Joseph BertneskieSamuel BychekLouis NettoDavid Ward

Edward RembiszLawrence Zanetti

Alfred JonesStephen Blondek

John BulynGerhard Kaden

William LawrenceRobert Doherty

Samuel GuglielmoRobert ParkerJoseph MolsonStephen KuchaJames De BiaseDominick GianniManuel MarcosNicholas Palko

William SlyboomHerman Teubner

Thomas Commiciotto

Stephen Surgent Albert Bertneskie

Charles GashPeter Jacklin

Peter Shraga,Jr.John Aspesi

Micheal LadyczkaEdward MarcheseRobert Stephan Roelof Holster, Jr.

Alex HossackSiber Speer

Frank KlimockSalvatore Procopio

Harry BreenGordon Tomea, Jr.Douglas GleesonFred Hazekamp

Harold RoyAndrew Servas, Jr.

Francis AlessoWalter BobzinVincent LazzaroJohn Op’t Hof

SHERIFF RICHARD H. BERDNIKMy family and I...

honor the service and legacyof America’s Veterans.

Paid for by Berdnik for Sheriff

- Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik


World War TwoJoseph Sondey

John ZierPeter HellrigelSteve Luka

Arthur Vanden BreeHarold BakerHans Fester

Patrick ConklinJohn Thompson

Thomas Dutton, Jr.Harold Ferris, Jr.Donald FredaJoseph Guerra

Edward HornbeckWilliam HromniakStephen PetrilakWayne Wells

Vincent MontalbanoJames Miles

Louis KlossAndrew Kacmarcik

John HallamAnthony LeanzaWilliam Sieper

Sylvester CancellieriGeorge WorschakFrank Urrichio

Andrew MarchincakCarl AndersonGeorge Holmes

Edward StadtmauerKermit Goss

George HuemmerAlexander Yewko

Emil Chaplin John HushlerEdgar Coury

Robert HubingerWilbur Lee

Vito VeneziaJoseph RussinErnest Yedlick

Charles CannizzoMichael BarberoJoseph PalaganoWilliam HadrysJoseph Hoffer, Jr.Joseph PiccoloJohn RobinsonFrank TorkosArthur MayerEdward JaskotGeorge RussellFrank Groseibl

Richard Van VlietBenjamin BoykoHarry CarlinePaul DominoJohn Fusiak


1333 Broad St. • 973-779-3125www.assemblymangiblin.com

Proud to Represent CliftonAssemblyman Thomas P. Giblin

View The Giblin Report Thursday at 9 pm Cablevision Ch. 76

& FIOS Ch. 40Check with your

Cable Provider for Other Listings


Joseph M. Shook, Sr., Founder1924 - 2008

Nancy Shook Garretson, PresidentNJ Lic. No. 3657

Roy B. Garretson, ManagerNJ Lic. No. 3550

Thomas J. Garretson, DirectorNJ Lic. No. 4988

Kevin V. White, DirectorNJ Lic. No. 4964

Shook Funeral Home remains an elegant

facility with three spacious chapels, a

comfortable lounge and ample parking.

Serving all faiths, Shook Funeral Home

specializes in pre-need and at-need funeral

arrangements, cremation services and

memorial gatherings for all of Northern

New Jersey. A funeral director is available

24 hours a day, 365 days a year to answer

any questions or requests for service.

Allow the Shook andGarretson families to honoryour loved one with respect

and dignity by calling

973-471-9620in your time of need.

www.shookfh.com



World War TwoLouis Ritz

William NiaderAlfred Aiple

Mario TavernaSebastian De LottoMatthew Bartnowski

John BogertJoseph Collura

Matthew DanielsJames Doland, Jr.Walter DolginkoPeter KonapakaAlfred MasseroniCharles Merlo

Stephen MiskevichJohn PtasienskiLeo Schmidt

Robert TeichmanLouis VuoncinoRichard Vecellio

Robert HegmannErnest TriemerJohn Peterson

Richard Vander Laan, Jr.

Stephan Kucha‘Gigito’ Netto

Michael J. Columbus

This photo of a Clifton sailor and his family is from2007 but the Clifton tradition remains: services at11 am on Memorial Day, Main Memorial Park.

CHEIDEMANNERNEST T.

AGENCYS1297 MAIN AVENUE • CLIFTON

973-478-5967 or 800-43-HOUSEYour trusted Independent Insurance Agentssince 1916. Let us evaluate your coverage!

“Own Your Own Home and Protect It”

✓Homeowners Insurance✓Renters Insurance

✓Personal Auto✓Commercial Auto

Call our agency for all of your insurance needs:

Bonds for Administrators, Custodians & Executors

Check Us Out on Facebook!

Happy Holidays from all of us at...

We Honor America’s Veterans


Korean WarDonald Frost

Ernest HausslerWilliam KullerJoseph Amato

Herbert DemarestGeorge ForneliusEdward Luisser

Reynold CampbellLouis Le SterDennis Dyt

Raymond HalendwanyJohn CrawbuckErnest HagberyWilliam Gould

Edward FlanaganWilliam Snyder

Allen HillerArthur GrundmanDonald Brannon

Vietnam WarAlfred Pino

Thomas DandoWilliam SiposBohdan Kowal

Robert Kruger, Jr.Bruce McFadyenCarrol WilkeKeith Perrelli

William ZalewskiLouis Grove

Clifford Jones, Jr.George McClelland

Richard CorcoranJohn Bilenski

Donald CampbellJames Strangeway, Jr.

Donald ScottHoward Van VlietFrank MoormanRobert Prete Guyler Tulp

Nicholas CerratoEdward DeitmanRichard Cyran

Leszek KulaczkowskiWilliam MalcolmLeonard BirdJohn France

Stephen Stefaniak Jr.

US Army/Special Forces Captain Michael Tarlavskywas killed in Najaf, Iraq on Aug. 12,2004 and buried with honors inArlington National Cemetery on Aug.24. Tarlavsky, CHS Class of ‘92, wascaptain of the Swim Team and enlist-ed in the Army in 1996. He served inIraq and Afghanistan and was award-ed the Bronze Star. He is survived byhis wife Tricia, son Joseph, his parentsYury and Rimma and a sister, Elina.The Veterans Alliance engraved hisname on the Downton Clifton MainAvenue War Memorial in 2004— thefirst name added in 34 years.

Nov. 8, 1961Plane CrashRobert De VogelVernon GriggsRobert MarositzRobert Rinaldi

Raymond ShambergerHarold SkoglundWillis Van Ess, Jr.

Passaic County Clerk

Kristin Corrado

Honor Our Veterans!God Bless America!

May 2015 • Clifton Merchant24

Few sounds cut to the heart more than the hauntingchords of “Taps.” Robert Krupinski has heard these

sad notes hundreds of times. More often than not, he

was the one playing them.

Police officer, firefighter, veteran – all are entitled to

military honors at their funeral, honors that include the

playing of Taps. Since 1994, Krupinski has been play-

ing this final farewell.

“For the family, hearing a recording is nothing like

hearing Taps played live. That’s what our heroes are

entailed to. That’s what they deserve. That’s what

Congress decided they should have. The reason people

use a recording at a funeral service is because there

simply aren’t enough buglers out there like me.”

Krupinski, for his part, has played at hundreds and

hundreds of funerals, far more than he can remember.

“And each time I play, it’s still emotional. But I have

a job to do. A funeral is supposed to provide closure for

family. The playing of Taps gives the family honor and

respect, it gives their loved one honor and respect.

There is no room for a mistake. I have to believe this

helps families heal.”

Krupinski uses a trick to keep his mind focused and

keep sad emotions in check, like the time he played at the

funeral of fellow Class of 1980 CHS graduate and law

enforcement colleague John Samra. Clifton police offi-

cer John Samra died on November 21, 2003, from

injuries sustained when the motorcycle he was riding

was purposefully struck by the suspect he was pursuing.

“The way I get through something like that is I pre-

tend that I’m just playing ‘lights out’ on a military base.

That was the original purpose of the tune.”

MEMORIAL DAY

By Irene Jarosewich

FINALFAREWELL

the

Clifton Merchant • May 2015 25

MEMORIAL DAY


Besides being called Taps, this melancholy

melody is also called “Day is Done” – heard

around the evening campfires of boy and girl

scouts worldwide. It is also known as

“Butterfield’s Lullaby” after the Union general,

Daniel Butterfield, who wrote the tune during

the Civil War.

Krupinski was born and raised in Clifton and

only recently was the family home sold, the one

where he grew up on Emma Pl. with brother

Marty and sisters Doreen and Lynda.

It was in this home that Krupinski was given

a trumpet to play when he was a five-year-old.

He loved it.

His parents, Jean and Martin, decided to give

him private lessons. He then studied music, went

on to join a drum and bugle corps and played

until he got to high school. At CHS, Krupinski

decided he preferred hockey to the trumpet and

put the horn aside.

“My father handed me a trumpet when I was five.

My father had one and he wanted to learn to play, and

sure enough, I ended up teaching him! I am very thank-

ful for what my parents did for me. They gave me a

lifelong gift.”

Graduating CHS in 1980, Krupinski wanted to follow

in the footsteps of his brother Marty, now retired

Robert Krupinski as a young boy, with his parents Jean andMartin, older brother Marty and sisters Doreen and Lynda.Even back then, Bob Krupinski was already a bugle boy.

MEMORIAL DAY


as Paterson Fire Deputy Chief and

their dad, Martin, who retired in

1983 after 30 years with the Clifton

Fire Department. While he worked

other jobs, Krupinski took the civil

service exams several times to

become a fire fighter. Although

interviewed, he never got an

appointment. He then applied for

law enforcement and was called in

by the Bergen County Sheriff’s

Department.

Near the end of his five months

of academy training in Mahwah,

Krupinski heard a tape recording of

Taps. “It didn’t sound so great. I

told my instructor that I could play

it better live.”

He brought his trumpet to the

academy, played Taps live, and next

thing he remembers is being drafted

into the Honor Guard Division of

the Bergen County Sheriff’s

Department.

“Honestly, I remember the

moment to this day. I was stunned. I

was proud that my father and broth-

er were fire fighters and I wanted

that, too. But I had a different talent,

God gave me a different path and

I’m proud of that.”

In 2000, Krupinski was injured

while working as a corrections offi-

cer. He remembers that the first two

years after the injury were really

hard. He had completely ripped up

his ankle.

“Soon it was clear that my offi-

cers could not rely on me because of

the injury. Fortunately, I was still

allowed to wear the uniform and

serve in the Honor Guard.”

Then came the warm September

day in 2001 that changed American

lives forever. Like the rest of the

world, Krupinski was completely

unprepared for the shock of 9/11. He

was immediately assigned to the

Port Authority to play Taps at the

funerals of the fallen heroes.

“I know people say this all the

time, but it was surreal. The first

funeral at which I played was Sept.

14 in the Bronx. People in the neigh-

borhood came out into the streets,

perfect strangers, started hugging

me. I didn’t understand it. But now I

think I do. They were scared of what

was happening to this country. They

were very grateful that I gave them

some comfort, something familiar.”

It’s a tough statistic to wrap your

head around, but from Sept. 14,

2001, until end of January 2002,

Krupinski served at 32 of the 37

funerals of Port Authority officers

who died during 9/11.


“The officers lived on Staten

Island, Long Island, in

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, of

course New York. I’ll never forget

it. For months, everywhere, all the

police departments came together

as a family.”

He played his coronet at these

funerals, an instrument similar to a

trumpet, but smaller and lighter with

a gentler, even more haunting

sound. He still uses this coronet,

“but someday it will be mounted on

a plaque and will hang in the 9/11

museum.”

Even though they are all called

“horns” the trumpet, bugle and

coronet are not all the same. While

trumpets and coronets have valves

to make playing easier, bugles do

not. Playing Taps on a bugle with-

out making a mistake is difficult—

the work is done by the player’s

lungs and lips.

“Taps can be played on a trum-

pet or coronet, but the original Taps

was played on a bugle. At first, it

was the only instrument used at

military funerals,” said Krupinski.

In honor of Krupinski’s dedica-

tion and talent, former New Jersey

Governor Jim McGreevey gave

him the moniker “NJ State Bugler.”

“In Clifton, in Bergen, they call

me the NJ State Bugler. It’s not

official, but the governor was very

sincere. I don’t want to comment

about his troubles, but regarding

law enforcement, he was a stand up

guy. I served detail on a lot of

events with him, including the

funerals of many police officers.

He learned all of our names.

Always addressed us personally.”

Each year, Krupinski participates

in the New Jersey Law Enforcement

Memorial Service held the third

week of May. This years the event

will be held May 19 in the Great

Auditorium in Ocean Grove. A

solemn ceremony, this event brings

together law enforcement officers

from the entire state. The names of

all of the New Jersey police officers

that have died in the line of duty are

read dung the service, beginning

with officer Maxwell Badgely of the

Newark PD who died in 1854.

While a the playing of Taps solo

is the tradition at funerals, noted

Krupinski, at memorial services such

as these, “Echo Taps” or “Silver

Taps” – an arrangement for multiple

players – is often used.

“It’s always an honor for me to

play Taps, but this ceremony in par-

ticular. It’s an honor to play in mem-

ory of fallen comrades. Sometimes

people think that because I play for

heroes, then I must be one, too. I

want to be completely clear, I’m not

a hero. But we have real heroes

among us. And I want to continue

to serve them.”

“Digni�ed, IndividualPet Cremation Services”

Totally private, individualpet cremations

Cremations completedwithin 24 hours

Same day witnessing available

Serving NJ / NY Area

470 Colfax Ave., Clifton, NJ 07013

(973)249-7200Open 7 Days a Week

Faithfulcompanion.com

MEMORIAL DAY


Many World War II veterans and cit-

izens include in their Memorial Day

observances a memory of Victory in

Europe or V-E Day, May 8, 1945.

Clifton greeted Victory in Europe with

gratitude, sorrow and a face to the

future. Newspapers of May 7 to May

10, 1945, contained articles about

Clifton’s citizens involved in the fight-

ing in Europe and Asia.

Gunner S/Sgt. Charles Librizzi’s har-

rowing experience aboard a Flying

Fortress B-17 bomber stated the target

of their bombing raid was Leipzig,

Germany but Leipzig returned the favor

with antiaircraft shells.

The Clifton veteran, recipient of the Air

Medal with five Oak Leaf clusters and son

of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Librizzi of

Ackerman Ave. said: “They began by

knocking out our Nos. 1 and 2 engines

right after ‘bombs away.’ That cost us 4,000 feet of alti-

tude right away. A burst in the nose about that time

wounded the pilot and co-pilot, another in the rear hit the

tail gunner. The distance between us and

the ground continued slipping away too

fast for comfort, and we were tossing out

everything that wasn’t bolted down, and

some stuff that was. Flak was still coming

up fast and fancy. A close one ripped the

No. 4 engine and it wouldn’t give full

power, leaving us with just an engine and

a half to fly on. And we did. It took some

mighty sharp maneuvering, but the pilot

pushed that wreck over the lines to an

emergency landing field in Brussels.”

Julia DeNike, of Fenner Ave.,

received word that her son Pvt. Joseph

Bush was liberated from a Nazi Prison

Camp by the 83rd Infantry Division at

Altengrabow, Germany. Pvt. Bush was

captured in March by the Germans and

was moved frequently, with his family

not hearing from him since December.

Pauline Chaplin, of Alyea Terr., how-

ever, received news that her son, paratrooper Lt. Emil

Chaplin, had been killed March 24, 1945, during

“Operation Varsity” in Germany.

During WWII, Cliftonites purchased $760,000 in war bonds through the Buy a Bomber campaign. Their efforts helped

build the Spirit of Clifton, a B-17 Flying Fortress which is pictured here.

Joseph Sperling was the

first Clifton serviceman

killed in World War II. He

died at Pearl Harbor on

Dec. 7, 1941, serving

aboard the USS Curtis.

Looking back at V-E Day May 8, 1945

Victory in Europe!

Story by Don Lotz

MEMORIAL DAY


Chaplin had two other sons in service at the time she

received word of Emil’s death. Lt. Emil Chaplin was an

honor graduate of CHS, a winner of the Rensselaer

Institute of Technology award in math and a graduate of

the School of Journalism at the University of Georgia.

When he entered service on Feb. 13, 1942, he was teach-

ing school and preparing for a master’s degree.

The May 3, 1945, Kiwanis meeting at the Robin

Hood Inn featured the U.S. ambassador to Czecho-

Slovakia, William Kelgard. His topic: “The

International Peace Conference at San Francisco.”

He said that although democracy was not perfect, “it

still represented the only form of government under

which free enterprise can exist and thrive.”

Victory in Europe seemed imminent, yet certain war

measures remained in place—rationing prospects

appeared even bleaker for the balance of 1945.

District OPA Director Richard J. Tarrant said “we

will still have a hard war ahead in the Pacific and on the

inflation and scarcity front…” and emphasized the

importance of rationing and price controls. The gas,

tire, shoe, and automobile situation seemed gloomy

enough, but the availability of food and fuel oil

appeared even bleaker.

On May 8, Admiral Karl Doenitz, Hitler’s successor,

had addressed the German people “saying he ordered the

High Command to surrender unconditionally the night

During World War II, boards were erected in neighbor-hoods listing the names of men who served in thePacific and European front in all the Armed Services.The second photo is from the archives of the Athenia

Canteen. Turn to page 38 for the story.


of May 6 on all fronts,” and concluded that “on May 8 at

11 pm the arms will be silent.”

The news of the end of fighting in Europe was greet-

ed by President Harry S. Truman with his radio address

and proclamation: “This is a solemn but glorious hour.

Gen. Eisenhower informs me that the forces of

Germany have surrendered to the U.N. The flags of

freedom fly over all of Europe.”

Mill whistles blared, church bells tolled, but no

crowds appeared in the streets of Clifton on V-E Day.

Flags remained at half-staff, as they had been since the

death of President Roosevelt. Mayor William E. Dewey

and City Manager William A. Miller ordered all offices

at the City Hall closed.

Mayor Dewey next proclaimed “I Am American Day”

in Clifton, calling upon all of its citizens to join in the

observance on May 20 to honor foreign born men and

women who have been naturalized, as well as great num-

bers of native-born citizens who had become of age dur-

ing the previou year.

Dewey said, “these citizens are giving strength to our

Democracy in its struggle against tyranny and it’s striv-

ing to make secure through international organization the

rights and opportunities in our own and other sovereign

nations.” Mayor Dewey asked patriotic, civic and educa-

tional groups to hold appropriate exercises in celebration

of the event.

Richardson Scale and Dumont Laboratory closed,

while Curtiss Propeller and Bright Star Battery

Company remained opened, although several depart-

ments at Bright Star were shut down when joyous work-

ers left their posts. Supt. George J. Smith had schools

opened and held assemblies, where teachers impressed

upon students the importance of the effort in Japan and

urged them to continue to buy war bonds and stamps. The

children were sent home after the assemblies.

The police and fire department had off duty officers

report in case of emergency, but all remained calm.

Clifton’s calm response to V-E Day was in fact no indi-

cation of its continuing response to support the effort

and those returning home.

Maj. George Mount Richmond’s family, received

word that the air commander of B-17 Flying Fortress

group formations in a hospital in France recuperating

from burns received after being shot down during a mis-

sion against Nazi installations. His wife had previously

received word that Richmond and his crew had to bail

out and that his crew was picked up by the


Americans, while Richmond was listed as MIA. He was

awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in Feb. and also

holds the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters.

Staff Sgt. William D. Pavlik, of the Engineer Combat

Battalion, had been awarded the Silver Star Medal for

heroic action in France.

The citation read… During an air raid in France,

on June 11, 1944, a truck loaded with high explosives

and ammunition was hit by a bomb, wounding and

killing several men. Pavlik, disregarding the intense

heat from the burning truck and constant threat of

further explosions, remained at the scene of the fire

to help remove the wounded men to safety and

administer first aid. The courage, coolness and disre-

gard for personal safety displayed by this enlisted

man reflect the highest credit upon himself and the

armed forces.

Pavlik had been overseas 22 months, in India, Africa,

and France, before going to Germany. He was a CHS

grad and athlete.

Victory in Europe did not stop the news of death; Pvt.

John Robinson was killed April 19 in Italy. He had been

there since last July and had entered the service Oct. 17,

1942. His wife Jeannie Robinson and daughter

Elizabeth Jean resided on Kenyon St.

Members of the Clifton Defense Council called

upon its thousands of volunteers in police, fire, radio,

nursing and other community services to “stay on the

job” until final victory in the Pacific.

War Bond Drives, Salvage Collections and other

public service continued and the OCD asked its forces

to “stand by.” City Engineer John L. Fitzgerald, who

has been the commander-in-chief of the OCD since in

1941, said he hoped that public-spirited citizens who

have been doing “such a marvelous job on the home

front,” would continue their services.

He suggested OCD could concentrate in Community

War Services, of which City Treasurer John Franz had

been chairman, and Loretta Schleich, secretary. State

OCD Director Wachenfeld urged that the OCD forces

be kept intact, until final victory. Wachenfeld also

expressed the hope that the OCD would again play an

important part in the Seventh War Loan drive.

The FCC had renewed the license of WKKQ, the

Civilian Defense short wave station in Clifton. Frank

Takacs, radio aide, and Emil Ploenes, assistant aide,

will remain in charge, under the direction of Crine

Hellegers, chairman of OCD communications.

Other efforts in Clifton included a “canning demon-

stration… planned by the nutrition committee of

Through scrap drives in 1942 and 1943, enough tin and foil iscollected by Clifton students, like those here, to fill seven railroadcars with flattened metal. Can anyone names these kids picturedhere? We’d like to meet them.

MEMORIAL DAY


Community War Services Division of the Clifton Defense

Council. Mrs. R. R. Hill, chair of the nutrition committee,

invited all Clifton women to attend the demonstration on

May 23.”

Passaic County Home Demonstration Agent Fontilla

Johnson said, “This year, it is imperative that housewives

make plans for their summer and fall canning early and put

up as many foods as possible. We are being warned of a

food shortage in the months to come.”

Quentin Roosevelt American Legion Post No. 8, invit-

ed CHS Principal Harold J. Adams to discuss, “programs

through which the high school authorities cooperate in

the education of men in service, to assist them in com-

pleting their high school courses and obtain their diplo-

mas, and gave an outline of the facilities for furthering

the education of returning veterans.”

Adams “stressed the importance of high school train-

ing for the post-war world, predicting that the high school

diploma will be the ‘big filter in the future,’ in seeking

jobs.” He also said, “Clifton will have a well rounded pro-

gram, probably with adult evening classes and vocational

guidance.”

The Clifton Junior Red Cross packed for shipping 25

overseas boxes of games at the Clifton Red Cross.

The Seventh War Loan Drive brought the students of

School 13 to the forefront with their weeks of planning.

Conrad O. Schweitzer, School 13 Principal,

“announced at a special assembly that although the

campaign starts officially May 14, the school will fire

the opening gun tomorrow May 11.”

Clifton’s post V-E Day economic well being was dis-

cussed at a Chamber of Commerce merchant’s forum.

Arthur Rigolo, chair of the Committee for Economic

Development, told businessmen to make

“immediate post war plans to take care

of increased consumer demand as soon

as restrictions are lifted. Each firm and

businessman should analyze his prob-

lems because competitors throughout the

country are making similar plans.”

Ford dealer Henry Fette, chairof the

commercial division, summarized divi-

sion activities since the first of the year,

providing a positive outlook.

Peter R. Barns, secretary of the

Chamber of Commerce, concluded the

meeting by informing businessmen on

future trends in retailing and post war

markets.

MEMORIAL DAY On April 28, 1965, President LyndonJohnson, fearing a second Communist

takeover of a Caribbean nation,

sent US Marines and the Army’s

82nd Airborne paratroopers to the

Dominican Republic.

After two years of political

upheaval inspired by Communist

insurgents, it took American

forces several months to calm

down the situation and re-

install a Democratic regime.

One of those Marines was Staff Sgt. George

McClelland, whose family lived at 28 Second St.

while he was stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC.

McClelland spent 90 days in Santo Domingo, during

which time 13 American serviceman were Killed in

Action, mostly by snipers.

Upon his return, McClelland served as a drill

instructor at Parris Island. Thirty months later he

landed in South Vietnam and was ordered into the

Khe Sanh firebase. Less than two weeks after his

arrival, the base came under heavy attack by north

Vietnamese forces. On Feb. 25, 1968 S/Sgt

McClelland was killed in action when his unit was

struck by enemy assault. He left behind a wife and

two children. This Memorial Day, take a moment to

remember servicemen like George McClelland.

—By Richard DeLotto


MEMORIAL DAY

Athenia CanteenIf you weren’t in the service dur-ing WWII, you waged a cam-paign on the home front, collecting

scrap metal, buying war bonds and

doing everything possible to sup-

port the ‘boys over there’.

The late Stanley Zwier, Clifton

Mayor from 1958-1962, did just

that as he and others launched the

Athenia Canteen at 754 Van

Houten Ave. in 1942, a group that

would eventually become the

Athenia Vets Post. “Most of us had

family in service. We wanted to do

something nice for the boys from

Clifton who were home on fur-

lough or getting ready to ship out,”

Zwier said in a 1998 interview. His

three brothers, Robert, Henry and

Michael, were all in the Army.

“We gave each serviceman a car-

ton of cigarettes. We would also

give them theater tickets and took

them out for a snack.” The organi-

zation also published the Canteen

News, which was mailed to Clifton

residents around the world who were

serving in the military to keep them

abreast of hometown happenings.

Zwier said Clifton’s version of a

USO Club wouldn’t have been pos-

sible without contributions from

businesses and private citizens, as

well as the efforts of his fellow

members on the Athenia Canteen

Committee, including Rose Bucaro,

Margaret Svec, Frances Mirabella,

Mary Bieganowsky, Steve Kleaha,

Marie Van Acker, Bob Colvin, Basil

Zito, Jean Luszkow, and Irene

Zwier, among others.

On furlough, back home, relaxing in Clifton, circa 1944, from left Joe Menegus,

Billy Bogert, Steve Kalata, Jerry Agnello, and Ed Riuli. Photo below, that’s

some of the organizers of the Athenia Canteen, including Stanley Zwier at right.

MEMORIAL DAY


Sag-A-Bits member Joe Menegus estimated these letters were

written after June 6, 1944 (D-Day). According to Menegus, Bill

Tomea was never found and Gerry Agnello, who asked to join

Zawisha’s group, survived the war but is no longer alive today.

In an article published in Oct., 2003, readers

were introduced to Willie Zawisha, who was

homebound during World War II because of

arthritis of the spine. With the help of his niece,

he published a wartime newsletter that kept his

Clifton chums connected despite scattered over-

seas assignments. Today, these classmates and

veterans call themselves the Sag-A-Bits, and

still meet yearly. Izzy MacDonald, daughter of

Sag-A-Bits member Charles Manella, saw the

article and provided pages from Zawisha’s old

newsletter, which were found among Manella’s

belongings after he died on Sept. 19, 2003. Here

are two excerpts...

That’s Willie Zawisha, who was bed-ridden most of his life, dictating a letter to his niece which will be sent to ‘Clifton

boys’ serving across the globe, back during World War II.


It’s been 20 years since we’ve seen any realinnovation in the medical exam known ascolonoscopy. To date, standard scopes give thephysician a limited 170 degree field of view.

Fuse Full Spectrum Endoscopy isrevolutionary in its ability to providea full 330 degree field of view, givingyour gastroenterologist the ability tosee more of the colon and thus the

ability to detect more pre-cancerous polyps.

Take Control — Act Early — Get Tested Today!

Dr. Steven Gronowitz, MD, Dr. Howard B. Baum, MD,

Dr. Boris Reydel, MD, Dr. Robert Lintz, MD

Dr. Andrew Boxer, MD, Dr. Natan Krohn, MD,

Dr. Bharat Dasani, MD, Dr. Janardhan Bollu, MD

With Fuse Technology, these Clifton doctors get the full pictureof your colon, and that means a more effective Colonoscopy.

164 Brighton Rd., Clifton973-859-3700

MEMORIAL DAY


When (retired) Clifton Fire Chief Joe Verderosa talksabout his time in the US Navy, he has many memories.

Sure, he’ll tell you about crossing the equator twice, or

the challenging fun of training with SEALs in the Naval

Special Warfare Unit 2. But the experiences that perhaps

most shaped who he is today took place in the boiler

room of the USS Fox, where Verderosa learned about

hard work, leadership and becoming a man.

Before he joined the Navy in 1973, Verderosa was just

an 18 gearhead from Clifton who spent his days tinker-

ing with his car in shop class or chowing down on Hot

Grill with friends. It was still a turbulent time period

back then —Vietnam was winding down but still hung

like a cloud over the country’s youth.

For a while, Verderosa didn’t know what he wanted to

do. School was not something that interested him, so

college wasn’t on his radar, but he wasn’t particularly

keen on any kind of trade. But it was a friend of his

uncle, Jim Kuebler, that got him interested in the Navy.

“My uncle’s best friend, Joe, joined the Navy and

was on a minesweeper,” said Verderosa. “He travelled

the worl... went to Vietnam... he came home and told me

all these stories about what it was like working on

engines and all this stuff, and that’s what really led me to

the military. I wanted to work on small boats and diesel

engines. I was always a gearhead.”

Verderosa quickly learned that the military often has a

different vision for you. “I went to the recruiter and told

him what I wanted to do,” he recalled. “He said, Ohyeah, I’ll call them right now—and he picked up the

phone — he probably called his wife or something like

that and told me—no problem.”

Under that premise he got his parents approval and

enlisted in March of 1974. By June, he was in Orlando,

Florida for boot. Once there, it became clear that the

recruiter’s promise was hollow: Verderosa was heading

to Illinois to learn to be a boiler technician, a few decks

down, deep inside the bowels of ships.

“There was a boiler chief there whotook me under his wing, got my headon straight so I was the best I couldbe... He basically taught me thatyou’re not just doing it to help theindividual. Doing that alsohelps the organization moveforward, which helps get thejob accomplished faster. People underyou are more motivated as opposed towhen they fear you.”

How the Navy Shaped CliftonFire Chief Joe Verderosa’s Life

LESSONS FROM THE

Boiler Room

By Joe Hawrylko

MEMORIAL DAY


While he was dismayed by the deception,

Verderosa got a pleasant surprise when he

got to boot. “Mark Osburn, he was my

childhood buddy growing up. They had a

buddy program where you could serve at

the same time and I said, come on, let’s jointhe Navy. He had the long rock and roll hair

and he said I’m not cutting it, so he didn’t

join up with me.” he laughed. “I got into

boot and three weeks later I’m in Orlando,

Florida and who comes running out of one

of the buildings?”

“I ended up yelling to him and the next

thing I know the drill instructor is yelling

and I’m doing push ups,” continued Verderosa. The two

continued to stay in touch over the next couple of years.

“I was stationed in San Diego on the USS Fox, and

Mark was in San Jose on the USS San Jose,” he recalled.

“His ship was a supply ship and I was on a cruiser.

While out in the Indian Ocean, they’d send us supplies

and he’d tape on a letter to the box. Here we are, two

kids from Clifton, keeping in touch with no cell phones

or anything like that.”

Osburn did his four year hitch and returned to civilian

life, while Verderosa continued on his military career,

going on two deployments during his five active years,

one for six months and another for nine, crossing the

equator twice while enroute to the South Pacific.

From Pollywog to ShellbackFor sailors, crossing the equator is a memorable event,

a rite of passage celebrated by navies as well as

Chief in 2013 at his daughter’s wedding. From left, Chief, daughterLee Ann, son-in-law Steven DeHaas, and Chief’s wife, Glenna.

MEMORIAL DAY


civilian ships all across the globe. In the US Navy, it is

typically a two day ceremony in which pollywogs (rook-

ies) are initiated by shellbacks into the Court of Neptune.

“The first time you’re being initiated,” Verderosa

recalled. “The second time, you’re the initiator.” Those

who had not crossed yet are known as pollywogs; after-

wards they are known as shellbacks. “All the people,

including commanding officers, if you had not crossed

you were going to get it.”

The shenanigans that ensued were gross but still

friendly. “The fire fighting foam was made of animal pro-

tein - it stank like something nasty,” recalled Verderosa.

“They would stick you in this box, a coffin like thing, and

they’d be beating on it while firing in a bunch of that

stuff. You spent two weeks cleaning up the ship after that

stuff, it smelt so terrible.”

Another regular tradition was the kissing of the Royal

Bellybutton: “They got the biggest guy on the ship,

greased him up, and you had to get a cherry out of his

bellybutton,” laughed Verderosa.

The end of the induction culminated with a dive in the

pool where the pollywogs were symbolically transformed

into shellbacks, finally inducted into Neptune’s court.

First On, Last OffOutside of special events like that, Verderosa spent

most of his shifts in the bowels of the USS Fox. The 547

ft long Belknap-class cruiser was a steam powered ship,

complete with a crew of boiler techs and other engine

room crew that kept the ship’s four boilers and two steam

turbines operating while out at sea. It was far from a

glamorous job—hours were long, light was non-existent,

and temperatures could easily top 100 on hot days.

“It was a job that you had to be the first one on the

ship to light the boilers to get them going and up to

steam,” said Verderosa. “And when you pulled into port

it took time to shut them off and refuel so we were the

last one off. The crummiest job in the Navy, no doubt.”

Despite the job being a drag, the Cliftonite made the

best of it, and learned some important life lessons:

“There was a boiler chief there who took me under his

wing, helped me get my head on straight and be the best

I could be,” Verderosa recalled. “He basically taught me

that pulling someone aside like he was doing to me,

you’re not just doing it to help the individual. Doing that

also helps the organization move forward, which helps

get the job accomplished faster. People under you are

more motivated as opposed to fear, like you’re holding a

hammer above their head.”

Suffice to say, Verderosa was happy to not be working

in a boiler room every day when his active duty ended in

1979. Once he returned home, Verderosa became a

Amtrak transit cop, a job he would hold until 1990.

Ultimately, the Clifton native’s goal was to return to his

hometown as a fireman or policeman. While waiting for

his dream career, Verderosa decided to enlist in the US

Naval Reserves not long after returning home in 1979.

“So I walked from my house on Troast Ct. and walked

over to the Naval Reserve Center in Clifton. The chief

petty officer was an old guy, he signed me up no prob-

lem, and then tossed me out and said, ‘Now go get a hair-

cut!” he laughed. Unlike his stint in the boiler room,

Verderosa’s next occupation was more his speed. He

joined the Naval Special Warfare Unit 2, out of the

Kearny Reserve Center. He was attached to the elite unit

until he retired from the Navy in 2001.

Roofing • Siding • Gutters Ventilation • Chimneys

973-772-8451

Good Neighbors,Great Rates

Thomas Tobin973-779-4248

Bill G. Eljouzi973-478-9500

MEMORIAL DAY


“I absolutely loved it, I couldn’t believe I was getting

to do this stuff. It was basically SEAL stuff and small

boat guys,” he explained. “This particular unit was

attached to Scotland. I did different kinds of training:

jumping out of helicopters into the ocean, beach recon,

and all sorts of cool stuff.”

After waiting for several years, Verderosa got good

news: he had been accepted to both the Clifton Fire and

Police Departments. Eventually, he settled on the Fire

Department. Verdersoa was hired in November of 1990,

and after training he started his career at Station Six.

“I was actually 36 years old when I was hired,” he

said. “You had to be on the list before your 35th birth-

day and I just made it. I was very very lucky.”

Then the Gulf War started in August of 1990, and his

unit was activated, a part of more than 500,000 US

troops that served during the conflict.

“In Desert Storm, my unit got activated, and I went

over to Scotland around Feb. of 1991,” he recalled.

Though the war ended in the same month that he was

activated, Verderosa spent the next four months in

Scotland. “I was only on the fire department for about

four months at that time. You had to be on for a year to

get in the union, but the guys got together and

Top left, Joe Verderosa in 1973 while in boot, top rightas an Amtrak Police Office circa 1985, bottom left, inhis first stint as chief with the US Navy circa 1995. Atbottom right, as Clifton’s Fire Chief, 2009.

MEMORIAL DAY


voted me in early, and I very much

appreciated it. This was when I had

a young daughter, and my wife was

losing her job because she couldn’t

find anyone to babysit, so that was

weighing on my head while I was

out there.”

“Initially, I think being a fire

fighter was a little more scary

because you feel like you’re not as in

control,” he explained. “You can’t

see very far, it’s smokey and you’re

going in blind. As a cop, even if a

guy’s got a knife or something, he’s

in front of you. As a fire fighter,

you’re going into an unknown envi-

ronment with all this heavy gear on.”

Verderosa was promoted lieu-

tenant in 1998, and then again to

captain in 2001. It was then that he

became a training officer.

“I loved it,” he recalled. “That

was absolutely my favorite time on

the Fire Department. I enjoyed set-

ting up the training, challenging

guys, writing grants, and going on

all these cool training missions.”

Verderosa said his interest in tak-

ing a leadership role stemmed from

his time in the bowels of the USS

Fox boiler room, one of the many

life-long lessons he received from

the military. That philosophy was

something that Verderosa carried

over to his training, as well as his

short tenure as chief.

“Sometimes when we would do

the training, people would complain,

‘Oh why do we got to do this,” he

said. “But once you get them moti-

vated, they go in and do it, and then

you come out all sweaty after you

just finished it and you’re like yeah!”

Verderosa continued in that

capacity throughout the 90s and into

the next decade, through 9-11. Like

most fire fighters, he has profound

memories of that day.

“I was in Costco and I heard

about the plane crash so I went over

to Station 4, and the next thing you

know the other plane hits,” he said.

“Then I headed over to Station 5.

We put another engine into service

just in case. There was some


Come and see why over 145 students from Cliftonare making PC their high school of choice!

Members of the Class of 2014 earned about $66 million in scholarships and grants.Clifton graduates earned over $3 million of those scholarships and grants.

Scan theQR code forinformation

• New Tablet Program & Online Classes• 143 Courses, Including - 27 Honors Classes & 19 AP Classes• New Track & AstroTurf Stadium Field• Full Music Program & Marching Band• Stable, Strong, & Future Focused• Cost Effective Tuition• Large School Offerings, Small Class Size• Fully Wireless Facility

MEMORIAL DAY


controversy about going over in case people get hurt. But

by Sept. 13, we just said, we don’t care, and two bus loads

of us went to NYC to help in any way we could.”

“It was just surreal, very surreal...There was metal just

stick up straight into the air. Total chaos. We did our

best to look around and try to help in any way we could,”

he recalled. “Everything was covered in white powder

and paper ashes everywhere. But the biggest thing that

struck me was when we got out of the bus and were

walking down the West Side Highway towards Ground

Zero, people were stopping on the side, clapping and

calling us heroes. It just made me feel uneasy.”

Verderosa and his Clifton brothers ultimately found

themselves helping by attending the funerals for their

fallen comrades in New York.

About a decade later, the public’s view of fire fighters

had drastically changed. Verderosa was named chief in

2009, and with Clifton and many other cities reeling

from the economic crash in 2008, local governments

were pushing for concessions from unions.

“Fast forward to right around the time I retired in

2010, and we’re on the other end of the spectrum: to

some, we’re the reason the economy crashed in New

Jersey,” said Verderosa. “The reality is for both, we have

a job to do. And for the contract, all things were negoti-

ated in fairness, everything was legal.”

Verderosa’s tenure as Clifton’s top fire fighter was

short lived, serving just one year from 2009 - 2010.

“I just found out I was really not cut out for the posi-

tion. I was more of a hands on, let’s get this done kind

of guy,” he recalled. “Instead, I was there making some

really tough decisions. I was the only guy who had to lay

off fire fighters and close a fire house. But I also hired

the first women fire fighter, Angela Tirado, so there was

some cultural change there too.”

Ultimately, Verderosa found himself not enjoying his

work as much as chief due to all of the tough decisions

he was forced to make. In 2010, he made the toughest

one of all, finally calling it a career. Though it was hard

to end his career on that note, the former Chief said that

his tenure in the Navy, fire department, and police

department gave him a lifetime of memories and lessons.

“But what’s that old saying, ‘I wouldn’t do it over

again, but I wouldn’t give it up for anything?’” continued

Verderosa. “It was great—great friends, great cama-

raderie, a great sense of togetherness.”

80

95

95

3

21

46

46

Wayne

WestOrange

Montclair

Clifton

Rutherford

Hackensack

Englewood

FortLee

NewYorkCity

ElmwoodPark

777 Passaic Avenue Clifton, New Jersey www.777PASSAIC.com

Available Now

• • On-site security &

ailable NovA

wailable No

46

Cl

ailable NovA

if

Ruth

4

80

ackensack

wailable No

herford

46

assaic A777 P

enuevassaic A Clifton, Ne

yseerw JClifton, Ne www

• • On-site security &

95

.www ASSAIC777P .com

• On-site security &

95

95

.com

Contact Bill Martini at 973-643-3333 Available Suites: 1,250 SF, 2,500 SF, 5,000 SF, and 10,000 SF


Get your BEST deal inthe Heart of Clifton

973-471-4075625 Van Houten Ave.Tues. - Fri. 12 - 6pmSat. 11am - 4pm

1010%OFFoff any watch during May

Extra

52 years in Athenia


Pope John Paul II once referred to the Knights ofColumbus, an international organization of lay

Catholics, as “the strong right arm of the Church.”

Organized into local councils, of which there are more

than 14,000 worldwide, the Knights were established in

1882 in Connecticut with a commitment to the principles

of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. Annually, the

Knights provide millions of hours of volunteer work and

donate more than a billion dollars to charitable causes.

In Clifton, Regina Mundi Council No. 3696, was

formed on Feb. 20, 1955. Until 1967, meetings were

held in a firehouse on Brighton Rd., after which, the

members, who refer to themselves as Brother Knights,

renovated the former Acme supermarket building on

Main Ave. to accommodate their increasing member-

ship. The new hall was dedicated in 1967. A fire

destroyed the structure, which was then rebuilt and

rededicated in Oct. 1976.

BAGEL STATION1223 Van Houten Ave.973-249-7999

10% OFFAny Purchase

over $20

Buy 12Get 3

FREE

Mayor James Anzaldi Community Service Award

K of C Regina Mundi No. 3696

St. Andrew the Apostle Gala & Awards


Our services are very personal and extremely confidentialBelow are some advantages of membership:

Stop by one of our two conveniently located branchesBotany Village - Branch Office:

237 Dayton Ave., Clifton, NJ973-772-0620

Allwood Road - Principal Office:851 Allwood Rd., Clifton, NJ

973-471-0700

• Higher interest rates on Savings, CD, and IRA accounts• Lower rates on Mortgage Loans and Business Loans• Lower rates on Car Loans and Personal Loans• VISA Credit Card with interest rate of 9.90%• Free Checking Accounts with interest paid monthly

• Free VISA Debit Card• Free Online Banking• Free Mobile Banking• No monthly maintenance fee• Surcharge-Free ATMs(over 30,000 of them)

• Personalized service in two branches • Free Notary Public Services• And Much More

Call us toll-free 1-888-BANK-UKE or visit us online at www.bankuke.com

Monday, May 25, is a day of remembrance forthose who have died while in service of theUnited States of America. We join in honoringour Fallen Heroes.


In 1999, the building was sold

to make way for a new post office.

Presently, meetings are held at St.

Andrew’s and St. Paul’s churches.

Having celebrated the 60th

anniversary of the council’s found-

ing this year, Regina Mundi (which

means “Queen of the World” in

Latin, a reference to the Mother of

God) remains active throughout the

Clifton community,

Among the groups, organiza-

tions, and charities to which the

council donates and with which

members volunteer are the Clifton

Adult Opportunity Center, the Boys

and Girls Club, the NJ Special

Olympics, the Polar Bear Plunge,

Katrina/Tsunami/Haiti and other

natural disaster relief funds,

Autism.NJ, as well as donations to

Clifton parishes and their schools.

The council chaplain is the pas-

tor of St. Andrew the Apostle

Parish, Rev. Richard D. Kilcomons.

The current Grand Knight is Pablo

Casiano, the current Deputy Grand

Knight is Robert Bollettino

The council continues to be

vibrant, holding social events, as

well working to reaffirm Catholic

teachings, such as participation in

March for Life, funding Keep Christ

in Christmas billboards and support

for crisis pregnancy centers.

For their dedicated service,

Regina Mundi Council No. 3969

will be honored May 12 with the

Mayor James Anzaldi Community

Service Award to be given at the St.

Andrew the Apostle Gala and

Awards Dinner at the Brownstone.

Regina Mundi Officers, from

left: Former Grand Knights

Marty Neville and Peter

Kueken, current Deputy Grand

Knight Robert Bolletino and

Outside Guard Ray Cramer.


Ever since she was young, Debbie Oliver knewshe was destined to be a teacher. Moving

from St. Louis to West Orange in the late

1960s, the former Midwesterner became a

Jersey Girl and graduated William Paterson

College in 1978 with a degree in Physical

Education and Health Science. Her next

step was to get a teaching certificate before

post-graduate studies at Indiana University

and Cooks College in Public Health.

She was prepared to begin a teaching and

coaching career but her career path began with

the American Red Cross and then the Boys

and Girls Clubs of Newark and Union.

Next stop was Program Coordinator for the

Boys & Girls Club. In 1996, she was named Clifton’s

Recreation Supervisor. Since then, her Rec team, which

includes Jessica Vasilenko, Bill Lemke and others, have

won numerous state awards and grants.

“I am a dreamer and they are the talent that makes my

dreams happen,” she said of her staff. Through vision

and persistence, Oliver has put recreation in the forefront

of Clifton’s identity, renovating and rebuilding facilities,

and increasing the quality and quantity of programs.

“We are a town that is committed to offering old and

young the friendships gained by playing together,” she

said, ackowledging some of her plans can be ambitious,

Oliver said she has learned to trust her inner child.

“I have learned to trust what some people call ‘my

crazy ideas.” She sees her role as Clifton’s physical edu-

cation and health teacher, focused on the health and well-

being of her 80,000-plus ‘students.’

“With healthier and happier citizens, the community

becomes a better place to live, work, play, grow and raise

a family,” said Oliver. “Better health and a better out-

look on life, makes playtime more fun.”

And that is not just for everyone else. Oliver competes

in volleyball and softball leagues and has entered a new

phase of life, competing in the World Senior Games aka

the Senior Olympics. “More than 11,000 athletes from

around the world compete,” said Oliver, adding with a

laugh “This is a whole new level of experience, for

women in particular, to compete into your 60s, 70s.”

A plaque on Oliver’s desk on the second floor of city

hall embodies her approach to work and life: “We do not

stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because

we stop playing.”

Gloria J. Kolodziej Community Enhancement Award

Debbie Oliver

Community Leaders

“We do not stop playingbecause we grow old, we growold because we stop playing”

Debbie Oliver with her favorite veteran, her dad Paul.


Community Leaders

On May 12, at the Fifth Annual St. Andrew the Apostle

Gala and Awards Dinner at the Brownstone, Oliver will

be honored with “The Gloria J. Kolodziej Community

Enhancement Award” for her contribution to, and the

enhancement of, the community of Clifton and for

embodying the values of commitment to faith and com-

munity that the parishioners of St. Andrew’s support.

Oliver credits her family for her outlook, growing up

with a strong commitment to her Christian foundations

and a zest for getting the most out of life. Her family was

always active. She remembers that as an adolescent, she

was already pulled in as arts and crafts instructor. Her

father instilled in her the ethic for hard work, her drive

and a solid spiritual foundation. From her mother, she

also got her work ethic, but also her sense of creativity,

her love or play and problem-solving skills.

Oliver serves on the Board of Trustees for the NJ

Recreation and Parks Association, is co-chair of the

Community Recreation Society and volunteers for the

American Red Cross. Oliver loves to work and loves the

work she does.

However, if you asked Debbie Oliver what she would

rather be doing the answer would always be … playing.


In Our Schools

PTO parents

Reem Yousef,

Rosemary

Pino,

Principal

Jason

Habedank,

Vivian Vaz,

Joelle Rosetti

and Nitza

Roman and

children at

School 4.

Ed Kurbansade and Halina Qasem

of Spencer Savings Bank in Clifton

helped to promote financial literacy.

They met with students of School 8

on April 14, National Teach Children

to Save Day. Their effort is part of

Financial Literacy Month, a nation-

wide program sponsored by the

American Bankers Association and

organized by banking volunteers to

help youth start saving early in life.

Beginning with the basics of what a

bank is and why it’s important to

have a bank account, the two also

touched upon the concept of a penny

saved is a penny earned.

School 4 on West Second St. is the smallest school inthe district with about 175 children. Because of the

smaller enrollment, PTO leaders are working on get-

ting parents and community more involved so as to

benefit the students in this community school.

Parents have planned a bargain-priced Beefsteak and

Tricky Tray for May 15 on school grounds at 194 West

Second St. If the weather agrees, the Spring Dinner

Extravaganza will be held on the playground. The event

will move indoors if it rains. The fun begins at 5:30 pm.

“This will be our first year doing a Tricky Tray and we

ask for community support,” said PTO member and

Clifton Board of Ed Commissioner Rosemary Pino.

The team of volunteers, some of whom are pictured

above, seek donations of complete baskets or monetary

contributions towards the event.

For those that would just like to come and support

their efforts, tickets are $15 and the price includes a

Beefsteak dinner catered with all the traditional trim-

mings by their neighbor, Nightingale.

Kids are also welcomed to this community Tricky

Tray and admission is $5 that includes pizza and soda.

There will also be a kids’ zone with games and activities.

For tickets, more information or to make a donation

call Rosemary Pino at 201-774-2538 or Joelle Rosetti at

973-454-1917.

School 4: The Little School on West Second


which meansTomahawk Jr. is trainedand nationally certifiedin restorative water drying methods by theInstitute of Inspection,Cleaning andRestoration Certification,also known as IICRC.


Hop-A-Thon

The kids at Rainbow Montessori ofClifton had fun on April 17 in their

annual Hop-A-Thon to raise money

for an organization called Healing the

Children, a non-profit that helps pro-

vide medical care to children all over

the world. Some participants are pic-

tured here. The owners of Clifton’s

Rainbow on Varretoni Pl. in Botany,

Jackie Alectoridis and Jane

Maffucci, have been doing this

fundraiser for more than 25

years. They are both host par-

ents for Healing the Children

and allow host families to

attend the school while they

are here tuition free. This year

Carlos from the Dominican

Republic returned to once

again live with the Alectoridis

family while he is fitted with

prosthetic legs.

22 V

are

ttoni Pl.,

Clif

ton •

973-7

72-2

330

1293 B

road S

t.,

Blo

om

field

• 9

73-3

38-8

300

rainbowmontessori.com



Mustang Coach

Ralph Cinque Jr., newly named Head Coach of theFighting Mustangs, was not a star in just one sport.Whether it was football, hockey or soccer, and even in

the classroom, the 1993 CHS grad excelled.

Cinque said his success was due to his large size and

his father, Ralph Sr., who made sure that his son was

playing any sport that he was interested in.

“The best thing that my father ever could have done

for me was put me in everything,” said Cinque. “I even

played basketball as a kid growing up. I didn’t play it in

high school, but as a kid, I played everything.”

“He was athletic. He grew up in Hudson County and

was a big football guy,” Cinque said of his dad. “There

was the fact that I was pretty big at a young age and he

saw there was some potential. He also got me into

playing hockey at a young age. It helped me with my

hand eye coordination and agility, just learning to skate.”

Cinque began playing hockey at around six years old,

competing at a rink in Secaucus.

“When I was growing up, they had a clinic on Sunday

mornings,” he recalled. “I used to go there to play with

a lot of the older kids. I was big for my age, so I was

able to play with them. It makes you better, it makes

you more hungry, more aggressive. Just a better

competitor.”

Hockey also gave Cinque discipline. To secure ice

time, hockey players typically must get to the rink at

obscure hours. Pre-dawn skates are a staple of the sport.

And it gets more competitive as you get older. Cinque

recalled his father logging many hours in the car as they

went to more than 70 traveling games.

When he finally got up to the high school, Cinque

found himself lining up in different positions frequently.

“We didn’t have a lot of guys on the team,” said

Cinque, who typically played center or defense. “Coach

Tom Danko was supportive of me and gave a lot of ice

time. I played whatever the team needed.”

Though the Mustangs were a .500 team for most of

his playing career, Cinque fondly recalled his time spent

with the team on and off the ice.

“You build a lot of different bonds with these guys,”

he explained. “Sometimes you see guys around town:

‘Awww, you remember 92-93 when this happened?’ It’s

fun. It’s the memories, you know?”

Ralph CinqueCHS 1993, Football, Baseball, Hockey

By Joe Hawrylko

Now Fighting Mustangs Head Coach


Cinque finally got to taste victory

on the ice years later in 2001 as an

assistant coach, as the Mustangs

went on to win the State Sectional

Group 4 Title.

“Danko and LaDuke were

coaching,” he recalled. “It was

pretty interesting. They gave me a

lot of opportunities and I’m very

greatful that they let me coach.”

It was on the gridiron that Cinque

had his most memorable athletic

day ever: Against Paramus

Catholic, he carried the ball 28

times and rambled his way to 288

yards and three TDs on the ground.

That, combined with a 30-yard

reception and 12 tackles from his

linebacker position, gave Cinque

one of the best days in Fighting

Mustang history.

“It was cool. I got some

accolades for it,” he recalled. “But

we lost the game. It would have

been nice if I ran for 80 yards and

won instead, that would have been a

lot better.”

Like other sports, he started

young. “I played at like five years

old,” recalled Cinque. “I grew up in

North Bergen and moved to Clifton

at seven. I was always a bigger,

chubby kid and got stuck playing

line so I gave up football for a

while.”

However, in middle school, the

Cliftonite had the opportunity to

join the now-defunct Colts, which

played in an unlimited weight

league except for skill positions.

Cinque was still being used mostly

on the line until the end of the

season.

“We had two extra exhibition

games against Montclair and

Passaic,” recalled Cinque. “I

begged the coach to give me a

chance at running back and did ok

at it. I thought maybe I was a little

fast for my size and weight, and I

thought it would be a good position

for me and it worked out.”

The Cliftonite also excelled on

the baseball diamond. Using his

size to his advantage, Cinque

eventually become a very good

pitcher on a great Mustang squad.

“In high school, I got to play for

one of the best baseball coach I’ve

ever come in contact with, Paul

Pignatello,” said Cinque. “He

taught us a lot about

accountability— that’s a huge thing

that some of these kids today lack.

He taught us respect for yourself

and your teammates, being on time

and he taught us a lot about

baseball.”

May 2015 • Clifton Merchant

Dance & Music

68

Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)is what the Mustangs on this page

will be doing at 7:30 pm on May

27 in the JFK Auditorium. That

song was made famous in 1937 by

Benny Goodman and remains a

favorite today. The show’s theme

is Chasse through the Century and

the girls perform Jazz, Ballet, Tap,

Modern, Swing and Hip-Hop to

songs such as the infectious

Uptown Funk and the twisting

Jailhouse Rock. The show will

also include music by the CHS

Orchestra, Jazz Band and the a

cappella singing of the Madrigals.

Advance tickets are $5 and $10 at

the door. Contact Lois Manzella-

Marchitto at lmanzella@clifton-

schools.net or call 973-470-2319.


With a Blessing, construction on a music conservatoryat Paramus Catholic High School began on April 30.

PC’s investment will produce more than 3,000 square

feet of space dedicated to the music program.

The new facility will include a 120-seat amphithe-

ater style band room, three practice rooms, a music

office, and storage for the growing music program, said

Gary Sabak, PC’s music director. In addition to concert

band and choir classes, PC also offers piano and guitar

classes, theory and independent study courses.

Sabak, who was the longtime music director at St.

Brendan’s Church, said he is especially proud to be the

founding director of the Marching Paladins in 2010.

Last season, the group took first place in the

USBands Fair Lawn competition, along with the best

High School Band award from the Pearl River St.

Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.

Parents of students interested in PC and the diverse

programs offered there can call 201-445-4466 or go to

paramuscatholic.com

At Paramus

Catholic,

from left,

Anna Mariano,

Ebuka

Onwucheckwa,

Jessica Santana,

Christopher

Daniello,

Ramdy Horna,

Jessica Van Wie,

Kaitlin Azevedo

and PC’s Music

Director Gary

Sabak.


Arts & Music

The 30+ person cast of South Pacific, which opens in Clifton on May 8 includes: Ayana Ayscue, Sydney Chan, WyattRemegio, Mariah Ayscue. Seated from left: William Powers, Arabelle Luke, Craig Ernest Woodward, Katie Shuster, DonFlynn, Leslie Silverman, Zach Abraham, Joseph Pacella. Second row: Mia Balsamo, Erin Pach, Rebecca Shuster,Sabrina Curry, Susan Liberti, Alexandra Poage, Alyssa Flaherty, Judi Layne Niebuhr, Kate Liptak. Rear: Frank Favata,Michael Sconzo, Felipe Rodriguez, Marquise Figueroa, Gregory Gwyn, Kenneth Fowler, Juan Beltran. Not pictured:Nicole Aleles, Noa Avital, Paul Carrazzone, Danielle Petrucelli, Michael Purdy.

The Theater League of Clifton, or TLC, presents the

Broadway classic, South Pacific. This epic musical

romance by James A. Michener centers on a group of

American sailors and Navy nurses stationed in the

South Pacific during World War II. Dates are May 8, 9,

10 and 15, 16 and 17 and it is staged at the Theresa

Aprea Theater at The Learning Center, 199 Scoles Ave.,

Clifton. For tickets, leave a message at 973-928-7668

or go to theaterleagueofclifton.com.

The Passaic County Cultural & Heritage Council isoffering 2016 arts and history re-grants. The dead-

line for arts applications is July 9, 2015 and for history

applications, July 16, 2015. The applicant must be

based in Passaic County; be a tax-exempt non-profit

organization or a municipal government entity; have

been in existence at least two years; demonstrate that

the project has clear artistic or historic merit; match

every dollar of the arts re-grant with one dollar of its

own and match every dollar of the history re-grant with

fifty cents of its own; create programming that culmi-

nates in a public presentation; and use the re-grant for an

arts or cultural project to take place in Passaic County

in 2016 or a history project, between July 1, 2015 and

June 30, 2016. Go to pccc.edu/cultural-affairs/pcchc

for details. Contact Susan Balik at [email protected] or

973-684-5444 to schedule a meeting to help with the

grant writing process.


The 14th Lollipops & Roses IntergenerationalConcert by the Clifton Community Band under the

baton of Bob Morgan is on May 16 at 2 pm at the CHS

Auditorium, Colfax Ave. Tickets are $7 and children

under 12 are free. Proceeds benefit the Clifton

Education Foundation and the Clifton Community

Band. For tickets, call 973-771-3751 or write to

[email protected].

The Passaic County Senior Citizen Art Exhibition is

open to those age 60 and over. There is no fee to enter,

but entries must be show-ready; participants are limited

to one exhibit. To enter, bring one show-ready piece of

art to Senior Services from 9 am to 4 pm on June 1 to 4.

Entries will be displayed June 8 to 26 at the Passaic

County Senior Services office, 930 Riverview Dr., Suite

200, Totowa. A reception and an awards ceremony is

planned for June 27 at 2 pm. Call 973-569-4060.

The 2015 Lambert Castle Concert Series continues on

May 3 at 5 pm when the Passaic County Historical

Society will host CJSO on the Go, a chamber music

outreach program featuring members and friends of the

Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra. On May 31 at 5

pm the Clifton-based Original Blue Valley Music and

Acoustic Favorites performs their vocal harmonies and

memorable melodies and lyrics. Admission is $15 to

each event. The Lamber Castle is at 3 Valley Rd. on the

Clifton/Paterson border. Info at lambertcastle.org or

call 973-247-0085.

The Apache Twins, the real life, song-making, countrywestern brothers from Garfield, perform in HistoricBotany Village on June 12. Their show begins in thetwilight at 6:30 pm in Sullivan Square as part of theFriday night free Summer Concert Series.


Arts & Events

Michael Lenson “Self Portrait with Paint Rag” circa1968, acrylic on wood, will be displayed in Clifton.

A Humanist Vision: The Paintings and Drawings ofMichael Lenson is an exhibit of artworks on display at the

Clifton Arts Center, May 13 to July 25. Lenson, who lived

and painted for many years in Nutley, has been called “New

Jersey’s most important muralist” by Who Was Who inAmerican Art.

Lenson’s works are in the permanent collections of the

Smithsonian Institution, the Johnson Museum at Cornell

University, the Princeton University Art Museum, the Butler

Institute of American Art, and others.

Lenson was born in Russia in 1903 and came to America

with his family in 1911. After studies at the National

Academy of Design in New York, he awarded the $10,000

Chaloner Prize that paid for him to study in Europe from

1928 through 1932. Upon his return to the US, he presented

a series of one-man exhibitions that won him critical praise.

From 1936 until 1943, he worked with the WPA in New

Jersey, surpervising art installations and completing seven

murals of his own, four of which remain.

A reception open to the public is on May 16, from 1 to 4

pm. Admission is $3. The Clifton Arts Center also features

a Sculpture Park. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday,

from 1 to 4 pm. Info at cliftonnj.org or call 973-472-5499.

Shop Mon, Wed & Fri, 10am-3pm

at Daughters of Miriam CenterThe Gallen Institute

155 Hazel St., Clifton 973-253-5377

DAUGHTERSOFMIRIAMCENTER.ORG

DMC

@

Want fabulous designer or vintage clothing?Linens, dishes or bric-a-brac for the home?

We are a Bargain Hunter’s Dream!To View the Collections, Visit Us on Facebook


Kim Castellano’s The Power ofOne Christian Coaching and

Outreach has been doing a lot of

good in Clifton since its inception.

Recently, the group partnered

with School 12’s Minds in Motion

after school program with to pro-

vide kids in need with book bags

and classroom essentials. “The out-

reach provides basic needs to chil-

dren during the school year so they

can come to school prepared and

ready to learn,” said Castellano.

To help fund their efforts, a May

15 Spring Gala & Cocktail Party is

being held at 7 pm at Lambert

Castle. Tickets are $50 and the attire

is business casual.

Proceeds will support Power of

One Christian Coaching and

Outreach Ministries, Inc. Call Kim

Castellano at 201-328-2326 or visit

powerofoneccom.org.

The “Adopt-a-School Book Drive”

collected more than 500 books for

Clifton School 15 that were deliv-

ered by Councilman Joe Cupoli,

pictured with Principal Luginda

Batten-Walker. “We hope to do sim-

ilar events for other Clifton

schools,” said Gerard Scorziello,

president of the Clifton Republican

Club, which organized the drive.


Planning Ahead

Planning for the Sept. 20 Boys & Girls Club of Clifton Car Show, from left: Angela Montague, Keith Oakley, JohnDeGraaf, Jeremy Lastra, Drea DeLuca and Nick Galletta. Seated: Amit Deshmukh, Joe Opalka and Odette Coronel.

The Clifton Democratic CountyCommittee and Clifton Democratic

Club hosts an open house on May 20,

at 7 pm, at the Allwood Library. The

event is free and open to the public

with soda and pizza to follow the

meeting. For info, call President John

D. Pogorelec, Jr. at 973-778-1604.

The Clifton Kumon Math andReading Center on Market St. is

holding an Awards Ceremony on

June 7, from 2 to 4 pm, at the Athenia

Veteran’s Post, 147 Huron Ave. Call

Misayo Bien at 973-968-6638.

Help raise 1,676 flags on MemorialDay, May 25 at 6 am on the roads

around City Hall’s Avenue of Flags.

Call John Biegel at 973-519-0858 or

Keith Oakley at 201-774-6666.

The Second Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show to benefit the Boys &

Girls Club of Clifton is set for Sept. 20 with a raindate of Sept. 27. Staged

at the Atrium on Brighton Rd., the event is a family affair with lots of

activities for the kids, a midway of food vendors and hundreds of vehicles.

To vend or become a sponsor, call John DeGraaf at 973-773-0966 ext 111.


Best Pizza

Jonathan Bender believed that the Clifton MasonicLodge could afford to take some risks as it approached

100 years and maybe do things a bit differently. As the

youngest Master in the history of the lodge, he decid-

ed to try a more contemporary approach and hold

fundraisers that included all the residents of Clifton,

not just lodge members.

While Brooklyn can have their hot dog eating con-

tests, what could possibly be more North Jersey, more

Clifton, than a contest for the tastiest pizza pie? Bender

confessed, it wasn’t his inspiration, he had already seen

the Nutley Jaycees do something similar successfully.

He correctly assumed that it was time to bring the idea

home to Clifton.

And so was born the Clifton Masonic Lodge First

Annual Clifton Pizza Contest, which was held on April

18 at the lodge’s building on Van Houten Ave.

Fourteen pizzerias from across the city brought their

signature pies to win over the discerning palettes of

Clifton’s pizza-loving residents.

Among the highlights were Chicken Marsala Pizza

(Julians Restaurant), Eggplant Parm Pizza (Scottos),

Bacon Pizza, aka “Family Favorite (Barilari’s) and the

Grandma Pizza (Angelo’s Pizza). However, Ameti’s

Pizzeria stole the show this time with its signature buf-

falo chicken and ranch pizza. Angelo’s and Bruno’s

received second and third spots respectively.

Quickly on the heels of this competition will be the

Second Annual Clifton Masonic Lodge Car Show to be

held on May 30. To register a vehicle the cost is $15.

The judges will award trophies to the top three vehicles

from each decade. Admission is free for those looking

to peruse the vehicles and vendors while listening to the

DJ spin tracks from yesterday.

These events are only a few of several that will be

held in coming months, leading up to the celebration of

the Clifton Masonic Lodge’s centennial on June 3,

2016. The lodge website (cliftonlodge203.org) and

Facebook page (Clifton Masonic Lodge) list all of the

events leading up to the 100th anniversary event.

Ameti’s Voted Best Clifton PizzaBy Irene Jarosewich


“We have been lending a hand

for nearly a century and hope to

continue into the next,” he said.

Clifton Masonic Lodge 203 is

home to many organizations

such as the Order of DeMolay

and the Rainbow Girls (both

youth organizations), Scottish

Rite, Eastern Star, Daughters of

Scotia, and Tall Cedars of

Lebanon, all of which promote a

specific charity. Lodge members

also open their building for use

by various organizations for pos-

itive events, such as those held

by the Clifton PBA, a monthly

blood drive and large family

reunions and events.

According to Bender, who is a

funeral director with Allwood

Funeral Home, one of the goals

for the centennial is the renova-

tion of the lodge’s fellowship

hall, a popular room for large

gatherings. He promises to keep

the community posted.

Clifton’s Hometown Plumber

• Faucet Repair & Installation• Drain Cleaning & Rooter Service• Sewer & Water Replacement• Sewer TV/Video Inspection• Boiler Repairs & Installations• Hot Water Heaters • Sump Pump Installation

Fully Licensed & Insured

EmergencyService Calls

24/7

Buonafina Plumbing & Heating385 Lakeview Ave., Clifton

973-340-2200 • www.buonafinaplumbing.comMaster Plumber Lic. # 12406 • Home Improvement Contractor # 13VH05704200

On facing page, at Ameti’s

Pizzeria, 2015 Clifton Pizza

Contest judges from left:

Jonathan Bender, Anthony

Valente, Jason Bochner, Robert

Madlinger. Above Officers of the

Clifton Lodge


May Events

The Clifton FMBA Local 21 will

again conduct a food drive during

the month of May. Residents can

drop off canned and non-perish-

able foods items at any of the six

city firehouses. The items will be

packaged and delivered to St.

Peter’s Haven on Clifton Ave.

Those that cannot get to a fire-

house can write to

[email protected] to

make arrangements for pickup.

“We have had great success

over the past years with our Food

Drive, Coat Drive and Toy-4-Tots

Drive,” said Chair Steve Turi.

“Thanks to people like Mike

Placko at Signarama, and every-

one that helps make Clifton a

great place to work and live.”

You have been reading for yearsabout Book a Cure, Running on

Empty, My Angels, Red Hat Angels

and many other team names.

Who are the people who are

behind these names? They are

Relay for Life teams. They sell

candy, shake cans, sponsor tricky

trays, sponsor ladies nights, car

washes, Bingo games and other

fundraiser’s. They hang ribbons in

May in the heat and tag in front of

supermarkets when it is 25 degrees.

With the 11th annual Clifton’s

Relay for Life set for May 30,

members from these 50 teams will

continue the ritual and report for

‘spring training’ to make sure every

Clifton resident knows about Relay

for Life.

They will hang ribbons from

poles and trees, put signs on cor-

ners, fundraise using every possible

creative idea that is legal. They will

do this willingly and with fierce

commitment so you or someone

you love will not hear the words

you have cancer and the donated

funds will continue the research

needed to find a cure.

If you would like to join this

extremely dedicated group of

Cliftonites and be a part of finding

the cure, start or join a team. Attend

the next Team Captains meeting on

May 7 at 6:30 pm at the Clifton

Senior Center.

For Relay for Life Clifton info

go to relayforlife.org/cliftonnj or

contact Staff Director Kristin

Bruno at ACS at 973-285-8041.

RFL Clifton begins at 2 pm on

May 30 on the fields at Clifton

High School and concludes May 31

at 6 am. Learn more about ACS and

its programs, visit cancer.org.

Clifton Firefighters Steven Turi, Sal Guardascione, Todd Healy and Lt. Gary

Warcholick kicking off the food drive with St. Peter Haven staff.

One of the many teams that makes Relay for Life successful.


Birthdays & Celebrations - May 2015

Richard Hango ................. 5/1Mike Szwec ..................... 5/1Samantha Cruz ................ 5/2Lou DeStefano .................. 5/2Jessica Perez .................... 5/2Jordan Lynn Bykowsky ....... 5/3Maria DeGraaf ................ 5/3Julia Komarczyk................ 5/3Irene Kuruc ...................... 5/3Margie Maloney............... 5/3Thomas Zangara .............. 5/3John Anderson Jr............... 5/4Spencer Flynn................... 5/4Russell Courtney ............... 5/6Dolores Hatala ................. 5/6Jordan Kulesa................... 5/6Vanessa Laine Montesano.. 5/6Mary Domyon .................. 5/7

Margie Hatala.................. 5/7Dorothy Alburo................. 5/8Terry Capilli ..................... 5/8Jim Findlay....................... 5/8Alexandra Homsany ......... 5/8Rory Houston ................... 5/8Frank Lo Gioco................. 5/8Ashley Kulesa................... 5/8David Peter Mosciszko ...... 5/8Matthew Nagy ................. 5/8Christine Siluk .................. 5/8Thomas Steranko .............. 5/8Petey Pathos..................... 5/9Ray Zang......................... 5/9Joe Gore........................ 5/10Rebecca DeChellis .......... 5/11Brandon Gorny .............. 5/11Jessica Camp ................. 5/12

Joe De Liberto ................ 5/12Michael Lonison.............. 5/12Donna De Liberto............ 5/13Jeff Reilly ....................... 5/13Michael Zawicki ............. 5/13Chloe Landrith ............... 5/14Chuck Amucka ............... 5/14Alice De Liberto.............. 5/14Dorothy Brown ............... 5/15Earl Grosser Jr. ............... 5/15Victoria Leja ................... 5/15Fred Gurtman................. 5/16Mark McGuire................ 5/16Rosemary Canavan......... 5/17John Hawrylko ............... 5/17Vick Ascencio................. 5/18Jamie Antal .................... 5/18Michele D’Amico ............ 5/18Walter Hryckowian ......... 5/18Mariana Pineda ............. 5/18Becky Kuter .................... 5/19Jennifer Mulick ............... 5/20Ken Bender .................... 5/21Joe Murolo..................... 5/21Matthew Palladino .......... 5/21Kage Lord...................... 5/22Danica O’Brien .............. 5/22Danah Alburo ................ 5/23Jessica Bielen ................. 5/23

Birthdays & CelebrationsSend dates & [email protected]

Find out all the details on Page 79

Bill and Mary Van Eck celebrated their 40th Anniversary on April 12. Gia Camille Genardi turned 15on May 2. Greyson Pierce Tauber’s second birthday is May 2. Joe & Connie Sjosward are celebratingtheir 23rd wedding anniversary on May 23. 90 Birthday Blessings on May 8 to Glory Read.


MaryEllen Krattinger ..... 5/23Michele Perez .............. 5/23Donald Lopuzzo ........... 5/24Michael Santosuosso..... 5/24Brittney Abell................ 5/25Olivia Hryckowian........ 5/25Connie Paladino........... 5/25Derek Bykowsky ........... 5/26Alyssa Dalbo................ 5/26Kaylee Pinter ................ 5/26Jonathan Rideg............. 5/26Fred Antes ................... 5/27Kyle J. Magaster .......... 5/27Steve Bielen ................. 5/27David J. Ricca .............. 5/28Anthony Alcalde ........... 5/29Valerie Gancarz ........... 5/29Anthony DeSomma ....... 5/30Rachel Gergats............. 5/31Christopher Ramirez...... 5/31Zachary Sjosward ........ 5/31Christopher Smith ......... 5/31Logan Thompson........... 5/31

Congratulations toGene and Gloria Tomaon their 52nd WeddingAnniversary on May 5.

Rocco Locantore & GraziellaSpinella celebrate their thirdanniversary on May 12.


Fix Concrete Cracks in 5 Minutes with...

Hablamos español

The QUIKRETE® Companies offers hundreds of products fordo-it-yourselfers and professionals. These include concrete

mixes, mortar mixes, cements, concrete repair products, stuccos,

waterproofing products, tile setting systems, hardscapes, blacktop

products, floor underlayments, sand and aggre-

gates and other seasonal items.

QUIKRETE® products can be found atAthenia Mason Supply. The experts pictured

here can help homeowners and contractors alike

select the best product for your next project.

Quikrete Hydraulic Water-Stop Cement will stop a leak up to 8 FEET UNDERWATER!

Quikrete’s Hydraulic Water-Stop Cement

Tomahawk Promotions

1288 main avenue

Clifton, NJ 07011

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDPhila Pa 191PeRmiT No. 7510

clifton merchant magazine - may 2015

Documents