The Woodcliff Lake Republican Club held its annual Lincoln Award Dinner Dance on Friday, May 7, 1999 at the Woodcliff Manor. The award was presented to one of the most prominent Republicans in the State of New Jersey, Senator Gerald Cardinale.
Senator Cardinale, a dentist with professional offices in Fort Lee, is a former Mayor, Board of Education member and Planning Board member in Demarest. He served in the New Jersey Assembly from 1980 to 1982 and is serving his sixth term in the Senate, where he is Deputy Majority Leader and Chairman of the Commerce Committee.
In his role as Commerce Committee chairman, he convenes hearings on legislation affecting the business community, labor, insurance, industry and professions.
Legislation he sponsored to promote business and job development includes:
His legislative initiatives now benefit working parents, nursing home residents, the business community and private citizens.
He has received numerous awards and commendations for humanitarian service throughout the state. He is a former trustee of the Regional Mental Heath Center in Dumont, where he helped establish a program for the support of frail elderly people. He has helped raise funds for the Boy Scouts and the Heart Fund and has been active in the Bergan-Passaic Unit for Retarded Citizens, the Community Centers for Mental Health, the Senior Citizens Center in Demarest and Several Sources. He was a founder in 1984 of the Bergan County Task Force on Sexual Abuse of Children and Women Against Rape.
He served as a delegate to the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Republican National Conventions and was a candidate for Governor in 1989. He is or has been a member of many fraternal and service organizations including the Knights of Columbus, UNICO, Sons of Italy, Columbians and Elks Club. He and his wife, Carole, have five children and reside in Demarest.
Club President John Spirig opened the evening with a welcome address and introductions of the many special guests that were in attendance that evening, such as: Assembywoman Charlotte Vandervalk, Assembyman John Rooney, and Demarest Mayor John Cerrone. Senator Cardinale led the group in the Salute to the Flag.
After an enjoyable dinner, the award ceremony began. The Lincoln Award was presented to Senator Cardinale and a number of special presentations followed. The first presentation was made by Assembymembers Rooney and Vandervalk. Together, they presented a joint proclamation from the New Jersey Senate and the New Jersey Assembly, thanking Senator Cardinale for his many years of dedicated service to the State of New Jersey and congratulating him on receiving the Lincoln Award from the Woodcliff Lake Republicans.
Former Woodcliff Lake Councilman Dick Purcell presented a proclamation from the Borough of Demarest congratulating the Senator on receiving the award and naming Monday, May 10, 1999 as Senator Gerald Cardinale Day in the Borough of Demarest.
Woodcliff Lake Mayoral Candidate, Andre' DiMino followed with the next presentation. He read a letter from County Executive Pat Schuber (a former Woodcliff Lake Lincoln Award recipient) congratulating the Senator on his award and outlining a few of the many important contributions that he has made affecting the County of Bergen in a positive way. Andre' continued by then presenting a Certificate from County Executive Schuber naming May 7, 1999 as Senator Gerald Cardinale Day in the County of Bergen.
The next presentation was made by Woodcliff Lake's Republican Municipal Chairman, Fred Singer. Fred read a letter from New Jersey Senate President Donald DiFrancesco. In it Senator DiFrancesco points out the invaluable contributions that Senator Cardinale makes in his role as Commerce Comittee Chairman and as the Deputy Majority leader of the Senate. Fred also shared some of his personal experiences in working with Senator Cardinale in the North East Republican Organization.
Councilman Jeff Klein followed next by reading a letter of thanks and congratulations from New Jersey Governor, Christine Todd Whitman. In her letter, Governor Whitman points out some of the outstanding contributions made by the Senator and the positive impact his efforts have made in the State.
The final presentation was made by Woodcliff Lake's former mayor, Bernie Kettler. Bernie read a beautifully worded proclamation to the United States House of Representatives from Congresswoman Marge Roukema. The proclamation contained details, in biography form, of the works of Senator Cardinale, including his contributions to the Borough of Demarest as Mayor and his work in both the State Assemby and the State Senate.
Overall, the evening was quite enjoyable, as evidenced by this group of happy people that attended the event. The Woodcliff Lake Republicans hold the Lincoln Award Dinner as an annual event, to recognize individuals who exemplify the ideals of unselfish service to the community, as recorded in our county's history by our award's namesake, Abraham Lincoln.
