Long before Freeholder Bill O’Dea ever thought of running for office, he knew the name Willie Wolfe.
“I remember when I was 9 or 10, I went to a Willie Wolfe Christmas party,” said Freeholder Bill O’Dea last week. “When I was 11 I went to my first baseball game, which was sponsored by Willie Wolfe. Those were my first experiences with politicians. I didn’t know who he was. I only knew it was because of him I could go to ball games. “But I knew he was a politician that did good things for kids. Years later, I think he influenced me in that I wanted to do good things for people, too. And I may be one of tens of thousands of kids that Willie Wolf touched in his way.”
Willie Wolfe, according to a resolution passed by the freeholders earlier this month, has distinguished himself in the Hudson County Community through civic and charitable events.
“For 50 years he has devoted his life to serving the public,” the resolution read. “In his own way, he has taken public service to a new and astounding level.”
As a result, Board of Freeholders has decided to name a street after him in Washington County Park on the Jersey City/Union City boarder.
“Willie Wolfe is a tribute to him and I’m glad we’re doing this for him,” said Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons. “He’s a modest fellow, too, and he’s not someone who would look for this. I’m proud to know him.”
Wolf was not at the freeholder meeting to accept the distinction but was at the dedication of the street on Sept. 20.
The resolution claimed Willie Wolf’s name is Synonymous with Hudson County. Not only did he once serve as a freeholder and as Hudson County Sheriff, he served on the Jersey City Department of Public Works, as a supervisors of the Hudson County Boulevard Commission, superintendent of Hudson County Weights and Measures, chief warden of the Hudson County jail, director of Hudson County Senior Services, superintendent of Buildings and Ground in the Hudson County Court House and assistant to the Jersey City Police Director.
While Wolfe is most noted for sponsoring trips to ball games and his yearly Christmas parties for kids, he often sponsored events that included every age level from young kids to senior citizens.
The Washington Park road renaming is appropriate because Wolfe sponsored the Willie Wolfe Little League.
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise presided at the street-naming ceremonies on Sept. 20 on behalf of the Hudson County Board of Freeholders. Among those who attended was Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham as well as a number of professional sports figures such as former New York Yankees Gregg Nettles and former New York Mets Ed Kranepool, as well as other sports starts from boxing and wrestling.
In other business
The Freeholders were scheduled to approve an agreement between the county and New Jersey Transit Corporation Thursday that would outline areas of responsibility for maintenance and repair of a new railway bridge in Secaucus.
County Engineer Bob Jasek said under the agreement the county would be responsible for clearing the bridge of snow and debris, but New Jersey Transit would have to do repairs. The bridge is one of two due to be constructed in South Secaucus as part of redevelopment of the area around the Secaucus Transfer rail station. The bridge is located on New County Avenue and allows traffic to access the county park and areas that are currently being proposed for development.
The freeholders were also expected to reject bids that would have installed restroom facilities in two county parks.
County Administrator Abe Antun said one bid did not meet some of the specifications and the next lowest bid came in higher than the county had budgeted.