OCEAN COUNTY – He’s been a fixture in county politics for more than four decades and his name was conspicuously absent from the ballot this year in the slot of Ocean County Commissioner.
Joseph H. Vicari, the longest serving freeholder/commissioner in the state, is saying farewell. He first became freeholder in 1982.
His sunset from public office however comes with many fond memories, some challenging times and a host of accomplishments. In his private life he served as a teacher of English and social studies, school supervisor, and principal at Veterans Memorial Elementary School in Brick from 1994 to 2003. He became superintendent of the Berkeley Township School District in 2003-2010 and 2011-2012.
Vicari is concluding his 14th term as an Ocean County Commissioner, a title previously known as Freeholder. He served this year as director of the board, a position he has held a dozen times.
From 1979 to 1994, he served as a member of the Dover Township Committee (now known as the Toms River Township Council). He served as mayor and also as police commissioner of the township for five terms.
He grew up in Jersey City and it was his father who inspired him to go into politics. “I grew up in downtown Jersey City, an urban area, poorest section and I worked for the family business which was a butcher because my father was a butcher and my grandfather,” Vicari said.
“When my father (Hugo Vicari) came back from World War II he bought a business in downtown Jersey City.” That business used to be a barber shop owned by Joseph Mastronardy, grandfather of Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy. Hugo Vicari converted it to a butcher shop. “My sister was born while my father was serving as an Army medic during the Battle of the Bulge. He came back and wanted to own his own business and his own identity.”
As he looked at some of the photographs and news clippings that featured his father that were in his office at the County Administration building, Vicari said “my father believed in something that was very important and that he instilled in me and all of his children – the importance of education. My father liked being a butcher but under the GI Bill he went to law school.”
“We worked hard. I’m second-generation Italian-American, my father was first generation but I am American, always American, never hyphened or anything else. He instilled in me hard work, education and giving something back to the community,” Vicari added. He showed another photo featuring his father with the Volunteers of America. “When he was in the Battle of the Bulge, he didn’t have a nickel for a cup of coffee and a donut so every holiday season, my father was with Volunteers of America and every time I see them, I will always give to them.”
During his time as commissioner, Vicari spearheaded a program to support the local business community that has been adopted by local chambers of commerce and business associations; he worked with the Ocean County Workforce Investment Board to obtain grants and worked with affiliated agencies in job training and retraining.
He is also proud of his work as liaison to the county’s Senior Services Office – overseeing programs and obtaining grants for the county’s most vulnerable citizens. He is also the long-time liaison to the library system. He also served as liaison to the Ocean County Vocational-Technical School and worked with tourism and non-profit organizations to provide matching tourism promotional economic grants to promote family-oriented, environmentally-friendly industries to help stabilize the tax rate and brought in around $7 billion into the county in tourism expenditures.
Vicari, who has been a resident of Ocean County since 1969, spoke proudly of his wife Joyce and their two children and two grandchildren. Public service was what led him to entering politics. “I understand the potential of a human being that if you work hard, you can achieve anything.”
When he returned to the role of Berkeley Township Superintendent, “I gave back the $250,000 so it could be used to save jobs for special needs. My heart has always been toward early child development and those with disabilities.”
He said he felt a good portion of his legacy concerned seniors. “We have excellent programs for our seniors but they need help and we have to make sure no one goes hungry and there is no waiting list.”
He recalled the late Freeholder John Bartlett who he also had a photo of. “We didn’t always agree. We agreed most of the time but he helped me grow.” Vicari said he’d like to see more young people get involved in politics.
Vicari noted that “Warren Wolf had a great influence on me. He was a good man who never said anything negative and was a very moral person. He helped people and made a change in Brick Township. He loved people, loved people and did the right thing.”
“I am concerned now about the younger generations. I love helping people and I am an educator. I read a lot and speak to a lot of smart people – not just people who think like I do – but people who think outside the box. You have to be innovative and you have to look at the future. Reach high!”
