[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 17 (Thursday, February 2, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING MAYOR GERALD A. CALABRESE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 2, 2012

  Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my dear 
friend and mentor, Mayor Gerald A. Calabrese of Cliffside Park, in 
honor of his 87th birthday. Mayor Calabrese is the longest-serving 
mayor in the state of New Jersey, having begun his 49th year in office 
in January.
  After first being elected to the Cliffside Park Borough Council in 
1955, Gerry was elected mayor in 1959, and has served continuously as 
the Borough's chief executive since his reelection in 1965. During 
Gerry's time as mayor, Cliffside Park has enjoyed unprecedented growth, 
largely thanks to his leadership. He is well-known for gaining many 
federal, state, and county grants to help his community. Highlights 
from his tenure include the building of Cliffside Park's current 
Borough Hall, the public library, and a senior citizen housing 
development, which was one of the first of its kind in New Jersey to be 
built using federal grants.
  Moreover, Gerry has proven his strong leadership by finding other 
innovative ways to improve his community while saving the taxpayers 
money. Under his guidance, Cliffside Park is about to embark on a major 
redevelopment program by building a joint DPW facility with neighboring 
Fairview. Cliffside Park and Fairview are the first communities in the 
state to combine their DPW facilities. Not only was a new facility 
desperately needed, but by vacating the property the DPW currently sits 
on, the town made valuable land available for development which will 
now go on the tax rolls.
  In addition to his public service in Cliffside Park, Gerry served in 
the Navy and is a member of the American Legion Post 126 as well as the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars and the AmVets. He is also a former 
professional basketball player, having played for the Syracuse 
Nationals during the 1951 and 1952 seasons. Gerry was inducted into St. 
John's Athletic Hall of Fame for his years on the basketball team.
  Mayor Gerald A. Calabrese is the pinnacle of integrity and 
effectiveness. It is no wonder that he received two standing ovations 
during his swearing-in ceremony in January of this year and has been 
called a ``second father'' and ``iconic public servant'' by so many 
respected public officials. Mayor Calabrese has been a role model for 
me, as he has been for so many others in New Jersey whom Gerry has 
helped during their careers.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the birthday of my constituent 
and dear friend, Mayor Gerald A. Calabrese. I join with the grateful 
residents of Cliffside Park in thanking him for his innumerable 
contributions to our community.

                          ____________________