Dear Editor:
The Paul Amico Scholarship Committee celebrated its 25th anniversary at their annual meeting held at the home of former Mayor Paul Amico. The scholarship fund, which was founded in 1984, was originally funded by dinner journal advertisement revenue from the testimonial dinner honoring Mayor Amico and his administration’s 20th anniversary and also by the testimonial honoring his retirement as mayor in 1991. Unused contributions from the former mayor’s “People Who Love Secaucus” campaign fund were added after his retirement and sustained the fund until several years ago.
Amico thanked the committee consisting of Middle School Principal Pat Cocucci serving as chairman, with retired high school guidance counselor Bridget Mastronardy and Huber Street School teacher Roger Grazioli. He also thanked former committee members whose dedication and hard work were instrumental in keeping the committee active for so many years. They included the late Margaret Grazioli who was our town’s Library Director, retired head of our high school’s guidance department Frank Bartletta, retired high school principal Edward Rittberg, and former resident Barbara Dechter who was active in town affairs.
The first scholarship was awarded in 1985, and two scholarships have been awarded every year since, one each to a male and female student. This year’s two recipients will be announced by chairman Cocucci at the scholarship awards program on June 8th at the Arthur F. Couch Performing Arts Center, bring the total number of scholarships to 49, awarding $73,500 since the fund’s inception.
Paul Amico