Long-time Public Servant Frank Salvato, 96, Dies

Frank Salvato, a former mayor and long-time Township Committee member, died Monday. He was last elected in 2009, but did not seek re-election due to health problems.

Salvato had not been able to attend the committee meetings, although Committeeman Vic Sordillo and Deputy Mayor Carolann Garafola frequently said in meetings that they had been speaking with him.

"Even though he missed meetings, he always contributed to the members, talking to us on the telephone," Sordillo said. "He always had strong opinions, right up to the very end."

According to his biography on NJPoliticker.com, Salvato's first stint on the committee was in 1938.

Here is the obituary information from Higgins Funeral Home:

Born at the family homestead on Mt. Horeb Rd., he was a lifelong resident of Warren Twp. A first generation American, his parents both immigrated from Italy.

Frank owned and operated the family dairy farm on Mountain Blvd. for over forty years. In the early days, he delivered Salvato's milk and cheese throughout the township and surrounding area. In later years, he owned and operated the Rainbow Motel on Route 22 in Green Brook as well as buying and selling real estate.

Throughout his life, Frank was a farmer at heart. Up until recently, he continued to raise beef cattle and chickens and sold fresh eggs to his neighbors and residents of Warren.

Frank was believed to have the longest record of public service in the state of New Jersey. He served over 60 years of public service in Warren Twp. as mayor for 5 terms, committeeman for the past eleven terms totaling 33 years, chairman of the Board of Adjustment for 2 years. He served on various committees including the Board of Health, Planning Board, Recreation, Police, Roads, Finance, Environment and Senior Citizens. In addition, he was a 50-year Charter member of the Warren Twp. Lions Club and served on the Watchung Hills Regional High School Board of Education for 27 years, president of the Board of Education for 7 years and Vice President for 7 years.

He was recognized and honored for his lifelong community service and was elected to the North Plainfield Hall of Fame in 2006 (class of 1933) and the Watchung Hills Regional High School Hall of Fame in 2008. He received the Warren Twp. Lions Club man of the year distinguished service award and president's award. Further, the Warren Twp. Committee recognized him by designating 24 Mt. Horeb Road as the Frank W. Salvato nature preserve. The community ball fields were named in his honor. Frank received a proclamation from the State of NJ for community service in 2006 and he was Grand Marshall at the Warren Twp. 200 year anniversary parade.

Surviving are his second wife Aldona Salvato of Warren Twp.; his three children Stuart Salvato of Tennessee, Hope Jean Dolan of Lebanon, New Jersey and Frank Salvato Jr. of Virginia; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren residing in New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia. Frank is also survived by a longtime friend and associate Marjorie Schwetz.

A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Friday, October 7th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Stony Hill Church, 225 Mountain Blvd.,Watchung, NJ 07069. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations to the Community Visiting Nurse Association, 110 West End Ave., Somerville, NJ 08876 or Lions Club of Warren Twp., P.O. Box 4441, Warren, NJ 07059.