Elected recently as president of the Secaucus Chapter of UNICO, Joseph Morano has reached the presidency after being a member of the organization, whose name stands for Unity, Neighborliness, Integrity, Charity, and Opportunity. Mr. Morano tells us the full name of the organization is called UNICO National, and is an Italian-American organization. To become a member, a person has to be Italian descent, or be married to someone of Italian descent. Both men and women are welcome to join.
Morano was born in Jersey City and moved to Secaucus in 1973. He was a graduate of St. Nicholas Grammar School in Jersey City and a graduate of Marist High School in Bayonne. He then achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University/Rutherford Campus in 1983, and a Masters of Business Administration at the same university, at their Teaneck/Rutherford Campuses, in 1989.
Morano worked full-time as an emergency medical technician at the Jersey City Medical Center, while striving for his bachelor’s degree, and also full-time as an investment advisor for a Wall Street company called Bear Stearns & Company, while striving for his master’s degree, up until 1990. Afterward he went to work for United States Healthcare as a salesman, and then went on to Aetna Insurance Company in management and became a senior vice-president in charge of government programs.
At Aetna, Morano worked with a company program linked with former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean, which helped people that had Medicaid get on a better access healthcare program with better doctors by enrolling them in a managed care program in Hudson and Essex Counties. At that time, approximately 130,000 people were enrolled, most of them children, and a better quality of life was given to children, said Mr. Morano. Furthermore, the same was done with Senior Citizens, getting better placement to managed care.
Presently, he is self-employed in a business called United States Benefit Partners, a nationwide health insurance and senior health service with offices in Secaucus and Tampa, Fla., with agents and services in all 50 states since 2001.
Morano is married to his lovely wife Dr. Lisa Rossetto-Morano, who is a Secaucus dentist, and is also involved in dental services for the Secaucus Board of Education. They have a daughter Christina, who is a student at the Huber Street School. Dr. Rossetto-Morano is formerly from Union City, her mother Ann is currently living in Lyndhurst, and her beloved father Richard is now deceased.
Morano also tells us that he was a member of the Secaucus Volunteer Emergency Squad from 1976 until 1990 when it was disbanded, and was a former president of the group. Morano received recognition for receiving and responding to most emergency calls, and also received a Commendation Award from the City of Newark for sponsoring Christmas events for children while he was working for the Aetna Company. He is also a member of the All Volunteer and First Aid Squads in New Jersey, and a Life Member of the New Jersey State First Aid Council.
For leisure, Mr. Morano likes rock & roll and loves Frank Sinatra music. He also likes the arts and Broadway plays, and he likes the New York Yankees. He also enjoys fishing and crabbing, biking and family-outings, and enjoys riding his Italian Vespa motor scooter with his daughter. Mr. Morano tells us that his mother Rose lives in Secaucus and his beloved father Leonard is now deceased.
For traveling he likes the New Jersey Shore, and travels to Florida for business and pleasure. Since his marriage in 1990, he has also traveled to Holland, Germany, and the Bahamas. As for UNICO, Mr. Morano succeeds former three-year president Peter Weiner, a town attorney, and Mr. Morano was his executive vice-president. Mr. Morano credits the UNICO Chapter Founder and first President Angelo Marra, a Secaucus pharmacist, who built the chapter to become the fourth largest chapter in the United States, and region.
Recently Mr. Morano ran for a Town Council seat in the 1st Ward Democratic Party Primary election. He was unsuccessful, but truly enjoyed the experience. However, Joseph Morano quickly tells us that just like UNICO and its motto, it’s Service Above Self! No better reason, indeed. Joseph Morano – All the best!!
Recently received a call from Union City Deputy Mayor Nicholas Mastorelli, who tells us that both he and his lovely wife Janice were hospitalized for respiratory ailments and flu-like symptoms, but are recuperating. As always, get better soon… Guttenberg Police Director Michael Calaguiro, who resides in West New York, tells us that he has finally retired from the West New York Police Department with the rank of captain. This gives him even more time now to work with Guttenberg Captain Joel Magenheimer, as the two are already a Dynamic Duo together. Congratulations Mike!!!…
Weehawkenites get a different side of the Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton duel history as a descendant of Aaron Burr, Dr. Antonio Burr of Manhattan, tells his side of the family story. His side of the tale can be read on the front page of a New York City/International newspaper called The Epoch Times, dated July 9-15, 2009. Interesting reading, check it out!
Kosher Bread can now be purchased in North Bergen, as the Hudson Bread company on North Bergen’s Tonnelle Avenue has expanded its company base, and acquired Kosher Certification under the supervision of Rabbi Isaiah Hertzberg of Teaneck/Bergen County. The director of operations for the Hudson Bread company is Ray Million, and the company sells many types of bread and has been in business for approximately 13-years. Best wishes!!!
And so it goes… until next time… see you around town… “Matt”
***Please note:
Readers who would like to contribute to this column can do so by mailing your news items, and photographs, along with your name, address, and telephone number to: Mathew Amato, Columnist, c/o The Hudson Reporter, 1400 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07020. Thank you!