It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of a true NJ Statesman, Entrepreneur, philanthropist and Bayshore Legend Joseph Azzolina Sr.
"Big" Joe Azzolina served Middletown and the Norhtern Monmouth bayshore regione in both the NJ State Senate and Assembly serving in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992-2006 where he represented the 13th legislative district. He also served in the Assembly from 1986-1988 and from 1966-1972. Azzolina also served in the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature, the New Jersey Senate, from 1972-1973.
Mr. Azzolina served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1944-1986, Captain (Retired).[1] As a reservist, he returned to active duty in 1983 for a tour of seven months – four of them off the coast of Lebanon – aboard the battleship USS New Jersey. He received three Meritorious Service Medals and two Navy Secretary Commendation Medals in addition to other combat awards and honors. As an Asemblyman, Azzolina led the effort to acquire the retired ship and have it docked in New Jersey waters where it has been transformed to a floating museum.
Joe Azzolina was also the founder and President of Food Circus Super Markets, which has many locations through out Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Mr. Azzolina received a B.S. from Holy Cross College in (Naval Science) and attended the New York University Graduate School of Business where he earned his Masters Degree.
Joe will be missed greatly by all who know him.
I had the opportunity to meet him on several occasions and he was always a gentleman and was someone I grew to admire even though I really did not know him well. He always greeted me with a warm smile and a big hello whenever our paths crossed.
Joe Azzolina leaves behind his wife Lynn Azzolina and his six children sons Joe Jr.,Mark, Greg, John and daughters Mary Anne and Judith.
Mr. Azzolina was predeceased by another son Paul when the child was seven years old.
There is no news as of yet on funeral arrangements.
9 comments:
BbHe will be greatly missed! :(
He will be greatly missed! :(
Please let us know when the services will be as soon as you find out.
aNON
As soon as I have knowledge of service arrangements I'll pass them along.
Mike,
just heard that wake will be inside the new St. Mary's Church (New Monmouth)... Wednesday and Thursday ... with funeral to be on Friday @ St. Mary's.
Not "official" yet, but looks like it will be that way.
Thank You for the heads up.
I'll see what I can do to confirm.
He was a good man and very good to his family, friends, and his community. He was a no-nonsense kind of guy and truly cared about people.
Too bad he never got his Town Square built, even a smaller version of it would have been nice. It would have beautified Hwy 35, employed many people and brought in taxes to support Middletown. And it wasn't even his idea, the Township added the Town Center to the master plan, encouraged him to buy property on which to build it, and then stabbed him in the back. Smart move. If he was allowed to build the Town Square on the property in which he invested, maybe our taxes wouldn't be so high.
RIP Capt. Azzolina,
BD
Also check out www.joeazzolina.com. Splash page for now. More coming.
Very nice Technojunkie
Thanks for the comment
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