'Legendary' Woodbridge Councilman Vincent Martino Dies

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A "legendary" former Woodbridge councilman has passed away.

Vincent Martino, a lifelong resident of Port Reading, died last Friday, April 21, at the age of 88.

Martino was a Middlesex County Freeholder (they are now called county commissioners) from 1983-1989, and then was elected to several terms as a Woodbridge councilman, representing his beloved Port Reading neighborhood. He also worked for the Port Reading Railroad and Middlesex County.

“The Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners and I are deeply saddened by the news of longtime Woodbridge resident, Vincent Martino’s passing on Friday April 21," said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald Rios.

"Mr. Martino was a devoted public servant. He had a passion for the railroad, having worked for Port Reading Railroad in his youth. A son of Italian immigrants, Vincent believed in American ideals of freedom, service and dedication."

"Vinny Martino was an outstanding and colorful public servant," recalled Woodbridge resident and volunteer firefighter Ken Gardner. "He spent his life going through our neighborhoods and helping the people he truly lived among."

Martino was Gardner's running mate for Woodbridge town council in 1991.

"His direct and funny stories got the point across and the job done," said Gardner.

Martino was a Port Reading volunteer fireman for 42 years. He was also a U.S. military veteran, having proudly served in the U.S. Army, including eighteen months in Germany, 1954- 1956. Martino was an active member of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Port Reading where he served as an altar boy as a child. He sat on the St. Anthony School Board of Education and was a founding member of the Port Reading Knights of Columbus.

"Our community benefitted greatly because of his tireless work for the residents," said Commissioner Rios. "We send our sincerest condolences to Martino’s wife Rosie, and his brother Marty and the rest their family during this time of loss.”

His funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. this Friday, April 28 at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church in Port Reading, followed by a burial. Visitation for family and friends will be on Thursday, April 27, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, 436 Port Reading Avenue, Port Reading.

You can read his obituary here: https://www.costello-greiner.c...