Bloomfield Union Leader Honored During Italian Heritage Month

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A longtime Bloomfield union leader was honored as part of Essex County’s 2017 Italian Heritage Month Celebration.

Bloomfield native and Bloomfield High alum Joseph Calabro, a father of two, has been a “dynamic and influential labor leader” with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), according to a news release from Essex County.

The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored Calabro during its annual Italian Heritage Month Celebration, held this year on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at the Hall of Records in Newark.

The freeholders also recognized two other prominent Italian-American community members during the ceremony: Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and Essex County Purchasing Director Julius “Jay” Coltre, both of Roseland.

During the event, Montclair State University graduate student and Italian-American Gabrianna Boomer sang two songs, and the Rev. Thomas Nicastro of St. Mary’s Church in Nutley delivered a prayer in honor of the occasion.

Essex County Freeholder Leonard Luciano welcomed representatives of the 35th Annual Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day Parade and Italian Heritage Committee, Inc., to the Freeholders’ event and recognized the following individuals: Rev. Thomas Nicastro (Committee Member); Edie Peters Liguori (Trustee); Pasquale Meola (Committee Member); Vito Matturro (Committee Member); Melissa Matturro (Secretary of the Parade Committee); Susan R. LaMorte (Committee Member); Bill Freda (Parade Chairperson); Vincent Cozzarelli (Committee Member and Belleville Councilman); Grand Marshal Al Lembo; Belleville Woman of the Year Cindy Sica; Nutley Man of the Year Nutley Police Chief Thomas Strumolo; and Belleville Man of the Year Belleville Police Chief Mark Minichini.

The freeholders provided the following biographies of each of their honorees:

"Joseph Calabro grew up in Bloomfield and graduated from Bloomfield High School. As an advocate for workers’ rights, he has been recognized throughout the State of New Jersey as a dynamic and influential labor leader. Under his leadership, the Union has grown from 1,800 members to over 3,000 members. Additionally, he serves as Assistant Administrator of the multi-million dollar IBEW Local 1158 Pension and Welfare Benefit Fund, a funding network that provides retirement benefits to former members employed by participating employers as well as health, dental, disability, eye care, chiropractic and prescription drug benefits to both active and retired members of the Union. He is also a Trustee on the IBEW Local 1158 Pennsylvania Pension Fund. In 2003, he was appointed to the IBEW First District International Executive Council. He has received numerous awards and accolades, including being named The Italian Tribune’s “Who’s Who List of Distinguished Americans of Italian Descent,” The Italian Tribune’s “Columbus Day Humanitarian” Award (2002), and a State Proclamation from New Jersey Governor James McGreevey for his humanitarian efforts, to name a few. Joseph also established a Child Safe Program in Essex County and is Co-Chairman and Vice-President of the Michael P. Calabro Foundation, named in honor and recognition of his late father. He is married to his wife Celeste Calabro, and together they have two children, Joseph P. Calabro, Jr., and Dominique M. Calabro."

"Julius “Jay” Coltre of Roseland was born and raised in Newark, in the North Ward. He attended Queen of Peace High School and graduated from William Patterson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Safety. He also received a Master of Public Administration degree from Rutgers University. For 25 years, he held various law enforcement positions with the Newark Police Department, and in 1992, he was appointed Essex County Emergency Management Coordinator. In 1995, he was simultaneously appointed Undersheriff of the Essex County Sheriff's Office where he served in various capacities. In 2007, he pursued a career in real estate with his wife, Maureen, and returned to the Essex County Sheriff's Office as Business Administrator in 2013. In 2015, he was appointed Deputy County Administrator, a position he holds concurrently with his position as Purchasing Director. Julius has been married to his wife, Maureen McShane Coltre, since 1990, and together they have two children, Celia and Julian."

"Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. of Roseland has managed Essex in the most efficient manner, turning the County into a model for good government and raising the bond ratings to AA2. Under his leadership, the Hospital Center, Correctional Facility, and Juvenile Detention Facility have been widely recognized, allowing Essex to create recurring revenue streams through shared service agreements with Federal government, State government, and other county governments. The County Executive has developed the Essex County South Mountain Recreational Complex by building the Treetop Adventure Course, McLoone’s Boathouse Restaurant, miniGOLF Safari, Park-N-Ride, Regatta Playground, Clipper Pavilion and paddleboats on the Reservoir, modernizing the Codey Ice Arena and vastly improving Turtle Back Zoo. The location has become a premiere family destination, welcoming visitors from throughout the Tristate area. He has also revitalized the Essex County Parks System for public benefit and led the development of new jury quarters and the development of the LeRoy Smith Public Safety Building, converting it into a revenue-producing office building to complete the government complex."

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Photo: Glen Frieson

Caption: (from left to right) Essex County Freeholder At-Large Patricia Sebold, District 4 Freeholder Leonard M. Luciano, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Joseph Calabro, Julius Coltre, and Essex County Freeholder President Britnee N. Timberlake of District 3 commemorated Italian heritage during the board’s celebration