Essex County Remembers '3-Second Stories' Of Sign Maker Killed By Car

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Matthew BeneduceMcGrath was an artist… a perfectionist… and above all else, a beloved friend. And Essex County will never be the same after his tragic death last summer.

On Wednesday, McGrath’s family, friends and neighbors gathered for a touching ceremony in his memory at Essex County Verona Park, paying tribute to the 59-year-old Verona resident with a poetically-apropos memorial plaque in front of the park’s boathouse.

“Matt was an artist, a perfectionist and a friend,” his wife, Gloria, said. “He would have been thrilled with this great honor.”

A Ford van struck and killed McGrath as he was crossing the street at Bloomfield Avenue and Hillcrest Terrace around 9:30 p.m. on June 24, 2016. The 44-year-old Newark man behind the wheel of the Ford pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and received a three-year prison sentence that will likely result in his deportation, his attorney said in February.

• See related article: N.J. Man Charged With Verona Hit-And-Run Death
• See related article: Verona Fatal Hit-and-Run: Alleged Undocumented Immigrant Gets 3 Years In Jail

The “signs” of McGrath’s lasting legacy as a local sign maker and artist can be seen throughout Essex County, including the borders of Montclair, Verona and Roseland, as well as each of Essex County’s historic parks and at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange.

In McGrath’s own words, each is meant to be a “three-second storyteller.” According to the late businessman, a sign is the “voice of a building… the mission… the space.”

And this rare dedication to his work as an artform is one of the reasons that McGrath will be missed.

According to McGrath’s obituary at IppolitoFuneralHomes.com, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Verona First Aid Squad, 12 Church St., Verona.

The bronze plaque that now graces the Verona Park Boathouse reads:

“Matthew BeneduceMcGrath came to Verona by way of Indiana, and resided there for 29 years, with his wife, Gloria (nee Beneduce). The shop Benegrathic Sign Design, where he created handcrafted signs for a broad range of locations and organizations, was also located in his adopted hometown. Throughout Essex County, you can see his work welcoming you to Montclair, Verona and Roseland, and one of his signs greets visitors at each of Essex County’s historic parks. The signs, of high-density urethane foam to withstand the elements and individually produced, are made with 23-karat gold leaf and sometimes include details of mahogany and other woods. A sign, he observed, is the “voice of the building, the mission, the space” and, as such, has its own personality, so that an exuberant sign for a local café is different from the dignified one for a municipal courtroom. One of Matt’s favorites was the sign he did for Seton Hall Prep, which exhibits his sign philosophy best, because it not only identifies the school, but welcomes everyone in a first-class manner. Matt will be missed.”

Wednesday’s ceremony inspired many heartfelt words of remembrance from the friends, family and admirers of McGrath, an active member of the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio, and longtime supporter of the VFW Post 2342 in Fort Lee.

• “[McGrath’s] signs captured the essence of the places they promoted and were a form of public art because of the intricate design, materials and passion which Matt invested in each project, including the signs for each of our county parks,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.
• “Signs were his craftsmanship, and they were beautiful,” Essex County Freeholder Len Luciano said.
• “Every week, I sit under a seal that Matt carved for Town Hall,” said Verona Mayor Kevin Ryan. “We are honored to have his plaque here at this corner by the park.”
• “Matt was a classic individual in the way he went about his work and his creativity,” Essex County Parks Director Dan Salvante said. “His artwork will remain a part of Essex County forever.”

But one of the best memories of McGrath may have come from GSP Contracting President Greg Peterson, who explained why the beloved businessman was perpetually late to meetings.

“He had so many friends along Bloomfield Avenue that he had to say hello and talk whenever he left his shop,” Peterson said.

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Photo: Essex County