Four to be Added to Wall of Recognition

It’s a list that includes prominent physicians, world-famous entertainers, athletes and the head of a nationally renowned museum of African-American history, among others.

That list will grows by four in October.

During last week’s Belleville Board of Education meeting, school officials announced that Cyrus Amato, Tom Apicella and brothers Frank and Gary Mascitelli will be honored by the Belleville Public Schools with a place on the district’s Wall of Recognition. The honor is reserved for those who attended Belleville schools and went on to distinguish themselves in the professions, arts, armed services or other endeavors.

An induction ceremony will be held Oct. 19 at 1:30 pm in the auditorium of Belleville High School, 100 Passaic Ave. The four will also be the guests of honor at the Belleville Education Foundation Gala at the Chandelier, 340 Franklin Ave., that evening.    

Apicella, a lifelong Belleville resident, owns The Chandelier and has long been a supporter of the school district. The Chandelier catering hall and restaurant is one of the township’s most popular venues and is often used for township events. Apicella also provides an annual scholarship to local students in memory of his mother, Minnie. He is the “quintessential Bellevilleite,” said Joseph Longo, a member of the Belleville Board of Education.

Frank Mascitelli, BHS Class of ‘66, was drafted into the Army and began a tour of duty in Vietnam on July 17, 1967. Mascitelli went on to become a highly decorated soldier, earning three Purple Hearts and two Army commendation medals. One medal was awarded when Mascitelli aided comrades wounded in combat. In another incident, Mascitelli exposed himself to enemy fire in order to prevent a group of Vietcong from surrounding Mascitelli’s team.

His brother Gary, Class of ‘67 and also a Vietnam veteran, was deployed April 21, 1969 and, like his brother, was also a highly decorated soldier, earning three Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor and the Purple Heart. Mascitelli served as point man on dozens of missions with a recon patrol company and took part in 17 firefights.

Both brothers regularly speak to Belleville High School students about their wartime experiences.  

Dr. Cyrus Amato, a prominent expert in the field of orthognathic surgery, helped found the Metropolitan Craniofacial Center after earning a dental degree from Georgetown University. A past president of the New Jersey Dental Society, Amato has also served as chairman of the dentistry department at St. Barnabas Medical Center and is a clinical professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. President of Amato Craniofacial Engineering, Amato has served as head of orthognathic surgical training at all three of the state’s oral and maxillofacial surgery residency training programs.