Dan Cirucci: Joe Azzolina, An American Success Story

Friday, April 16, 2010

Joe Azzolina, An American Success Story

New Jersey Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina, a USN Retired Captain who served in the State Senate and General Assembly representing New Jersey’s 13th district passed away yesterday evening at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in New York with his sons Joseph, John and Gregg at his bedside. He was 84.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said: "“Mary Pat and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Joe Azzolina late yesterday. A veteran, businessman, father and husband, Joe was also a friend and dedicated public servant who will be greatly missed. Our prayers are with the Azzolina family today.”
Azzolina was first elected to the State Assembly in 1965, and re-elected in 1967 and 1969. He was elected to the State Senate in 1971. After losing his bid for a second term in 1973, Azzolina returned to the Assembly in 1985. After unsuccessful State Senate and Congressional runs in the late 1980s, Azzolina was elected for a third tenure in the State Assembly in 1991, where he stayed until 2005. Azzolina, a Middletown resident, succeeded in business, government, and military service. A self-made entrepreneur, building upon the business principles he learned at the small corner grocery store opened by his Italian immigrant parents John and Angelina in 1927. He was the founder of Food Circus Supermarkets, Inc. operating 10 SuperFoodtown stores in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex Counties.

As a retired U.S. Naval Captain, Azzolina’s military career was vast and distinguished. He enlisted as an apprentice seaman at the age of 18 and attained the rank of Captain in 1978; he officially retired in 1986. During his 42 years of service in Navy and the Navy Ready Reserves, Azzolina served on active duty aboard the cruisers USS Albany, USS Portsmouth, USS Toledo and the USS New Jersey. Azzolina served as Chairman of the state’s USS NJ Battleship Commission, and has been credited for preserving the most decorated warship in U.S. history as a museum and memorial. He also attended the National and Naval War Colleges and served at the Naval Earle Weapons Station in Colts Neck and Leonardo Pier.

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About Dan Cirucci

He's been cited by the late Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed across all media.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, a Save Jersey blog columnist, frequent guest on the Matt Rooney radio show and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.

Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Broad and Liberty and other print and online platforms.

A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.

He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.

In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cirucci's passions include all things Italian, politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel.

He and his wife Carole have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

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