These Hoboken folks deserve some public recognition

By Dennis Sevano

As years pass, the memory of many of the places that formed our legacy fades into a type of innocent amnesia. But there are ways to be certain that we can keep alive the memory of the people and landmarks that defined us.ch More

The Rev. Michael Gugliemelli, a hometown boy and the priest at Third and Jefferson streets and St. Francis Church in Hoboken was tragically killed in a car accident in 2017. His name now rightfully adorns the street sign at the top of Jefferson Street.

“Biggie’s Way” is the name on Fourth and Madison streets, evoking memories of the eatery’s neighborliness and inviting foods, especially those hot dogs. “Carlo’s Bakery Way” now emblazons Newark and Washington streets, named for Washington Street’s famous pastry maestro.

There are other people and places that represented our “right stuff” and perhaps these lesser known heroes deserve a lasting tribute, too.

Dorothy Buoncuore, the beloved school crossing guard on 12th Street and Willow Avenue is one; and Stan’s Sport Center at 528 Washington St., is another. There are many more that made our Mile Square town the special place it is.

Years have passed since Demarest High School existed as a secondary hall of learning, from 1911 to 1960. It was dedicated to A.J. Demarest, a teacher, principal, superintendent and recognized figure of Hoboken schools at the dawn of the 20th century, when influential figures named the high school in his honor.

If the halls of that school could talk, they would tell us of Mary Ann Villanella, who resided at 801 Bloomfield St. for 85 years. A former student and then teacher at Demarest who then taught at the new Hoboken High School, she spent 40 years educating learners. As a teacher and unofficial Hoboken historian, many claim that she could capture your attention by recalling classmates and students, many of whom were worth remembering and some perhaps worth forgetting. Her stories of the city bring to mind what Mason Cooley said, “Nostalgia paints a smile on the stone face of the past.” Her impact during her 85 years should be enough to warrant a street sign bearing her name on Bloomfield Street.

Many members of the Lisa family walked the corridors of the old Demarest High School. Living at 521 Jefferson St., nine children were raised in the railroad-room apartments so common in the day. Their knowledge of Italian cooking brought about the opening of a family restaurant that served the city from 1951 to 2001. Those were the years of sandwiches, eggplant, spaghetti and meatballs with pictures of Sinatra and the Hoboken piers adorning the place.

There was lots more to the family than gravy and parmigiana. The brothers Michael, Harold, Joseph, Jimmy and Charlie all served in the military. Charlie, Bobby, Jimmy and John played football. All of them wore the mysterious number “37″ on their Demarest jerseys, an unexplained family tradition. Bobby appeared in the New York Daily News in the 1950s as one of the premier running backs in the state, and he went on to play college ball as a superior player in the nation’s small school division, but an injury cut short his football future.

The two families of Demarest and Hoboken High School distinction – the Lisas and Villanellas — should be considered for recognition with a street sign to signify their significant contributions to the military, restaurant trade, football and excellence at teaching.

“I coulda been somebody,” said Marlon Brando in the Hoboken-set film “On the Waterfront.” Well, these families were somebody!

Dennis Sevano was born and raised in Hoboken. He writes frequently about sports figures in the Mile Square City. He currently resides in Teaneck.

The views expressed here are the author’s own.

Original Source:

https://www.nj.com/hudson/2025...

Published Jan 24, 2025, 8:00 am/ Updated: January 24, 11:08 pm ET