Bayonne lost one of its most popular councilmen ever – and another member of the Greatest Generation – when Neil DeSena, 88, died on Oct. 15.
“Neil was dedicated to the city and to its people,” said City Clerk Robert Sloan, who worked with DeSena when he was on the City Council. “He devoted his time to doing his job as a city councilman and was always very proud of what city government could accomplish.”
Neil Carroll, a former Hudson County freeholder and former aide to U.S. Representative Frank Guarini, knew DeSena well, serving as campaign manager for DeSena during two of his election bids.
“He was probably one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met in the political field,” Carroll said. “We had a great friendship. He was a great guy. Everyone liked him. He never did anything to hurt anyone.”
Carroll said he remembered that DeSena replaced Joseph Lefante, who had gone on to the New Jersey General Assembly, as a local legislator.
“He ran on the [Mayor Francis] Fitzpatrick slate and got elected,” Carroll said. “He was a councilman for many years, and rose to council president. He’s probably one of the best council presidents we ever had.”
In the 1970s and ‘80s, he served in the administrations of Fitzpatrick and Mayor Dennis Collins. DeSena was City Council president from 1974 to 1978 and from 1986 to 1990.
DeSena also later served as an aide to Mayor Joseph Doria.
“He was great to be associated with. He was a credit to Bayonne.” – Neil Carroll
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In 2003, Doria signed a proclamation declaring Oct. 25 of that year, when the Sicilian Citizens Club of Bayonne honored DeSena as its Man of the Year, as Neil DeSena Day.
DeSena was highly regarded for his service to the United States in the military. He served in the United States Army during World War II and the United States Air Force during the Korean War. His veterans’ group memberships included the American Legion Post No. 19, Catholic War Veterans Post #1612, and the Korean War Veterans.
He had a long and successful career in the insurance and real estate fields, and was a former officer of the Insurance Workers International Union, which later merged into the United Food and Commercial Workers.
Community oriented
DeSena was actively involved in a number of community groups.
They included United Cerebral Palsy of Hudson County, the Elks Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Bayonne Community Health Center, the Mount Carmel Lyceum, the American Red Cross, the Bayonne Equal Opportunity Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the Boy Scouts of America.
Not forgotten
Carroll said that DeSena was known as a family man, one of the things he respected most.
“I was sorry to see him pass away. He will be sorely missed,” he said. “He was great to be associated with. He was a credit to Bayonne.”
DeSena was buried on Oct. 19 after a funeral Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Church. His casket was draped with an American flag.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.