2009 Hall of Fame Inductee, Carmen A. Orechio

Stating that time did not allow her to list all of the many accomplishments of Carmen Orechio, author and former Board of Education member Ann Rabinowitz told a group in 1996 that, “Carmen cares about everything that he does. He has always held the best interests of the community at heart. Charity and concern for people are his highest virtues.” (“The Nutley Sun,” 5/9/1996)

Carmen Orechio was born in Nutley and is a graduate of Nutley High School (1944) and Rutgers University. He is a Veteran having served in the US Army with the European Occupational Forces during World War II. He was first elected a member of the Nutley Board of Commissioners in 1968. He served as Mayor during the period 1972-1976, 1980-1984, and 1992-1996. During his 40 year tenure as a commissioner, he served as Director of the Department of Public Safety for 28 years. He also served as Director of the Department of Public Affairs for 12 years. He was elected to the New Jersey State Senate in 1973. He served as Senate Majority Leader in 1981 and was elected Senate President in 1982. He served as Senate President from 1982 through 1985 [also serving as Acting Governor during the Kean administration in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985]. (Sources: Nutley Hall of Fame Nomination presented by Dr. Milton Prystowsky, Township of Nutley web site 2/17/2009)

“Along the way, Carmen gained a reputation among his colleagues and constituents for being steady, honest and efficient. With his ever-present smile and firm handshake, Carmen was always willing and ready to tackle the tough issues facing the state, but never too busy, nor too tired, to stop and help those who could not help themselves. He would often say that the reason he aspired to elected office was because of his ‘deep commitment to help the needy and the disabled.'” (“A Testimonial Dinner in Honor of Carmen A. Orechio on his retirement from the New Jersey Senate,” April 7, 1992)

In addition to his political life, he is Chairman of the Board at New Jersey District Water Supply. He also sits on the Board of Trustees of the Clara Maass Hospital Foundation in Belleville and Garden State Cancer Center. He is actively involved in the Nutley Old Guard where he has recently served as president. He is also a member of Nutley UNICO.

“Carmen was also instrumental in forming the “special young adult” group in Nutley. Over the years I have worked closely with Carmen in helping children with various disabilities, e.g., neurological problems, liver transplant, etc. Over the 40 plus years that I have known him, Carmen has always been available and very helpful to people in need for all ages from childhood thru adulthood and senior citizens, but done quietly with humility and no fan fare.” (Nomination, Dr. Milton Prystowsky)

Orechio served as a member of the Meadowlands Development Commission; president of the Nutley Jaycees, commander of the Nutley Amvets; and proprietor of the Nutley Travel Service.

Under his photograph in the Nutley High School yearbook “Exit” in 1944, Carmen Orechio is described as, “good-natured, inquisitive, blushing.” On May 26, 1973, “The Nutley Sun” headlined, “Nutley’s mayor busing around for town seniors” and went on to describe the Mayor’s discovery of a retired school bus unused in the town garage. He put the bus to work providing limited bus service for senior citizens and he also had an idea to raise cash to expand the service. He began to charge a $25 fee for marrying people. “I was performing marriages free but felt that maybe I ought to get some money for it if it was going toward a good cause,” he commented. “Everyone who has paid to be married has done so with delight.” Every Tuesday around noon, the bus traveled Nutley streets picking up those seniors who no longer found it easy to get to their Golden Age Club meeting. The “Sun” reported, “When the mayor leaps out of the bus to usher on the ladies, a pleasantly surprised look comes to their faces. He [Orechio] says he enjoys it and would like to provide them with more service, and buy a newer and larger bus. The idea to provide bus service for the seniors has caught on in several other municipalities. Kearny is planning to purchase a jitney-type vehicle for taking older citizens to the shopping areas, and Maplewood is studying establishing a similar system.” (“The Nutley Sun,” 5/26/1973, “The New York Times,” 11/6/1972)

Carmen Orechio, in his capacity as chairman of the County and Municipal Government Study Commission, and later the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee, spearheaded the drive to require the state to pay for the costs associated with judicial, welfare and psychiatric hospital expenditures, thereby easing the tax burdens for property taxpayers. His legislation created 36 additional Superior Court judgeships thereby reducing the backlog of court cases. As chairman of the State Fire Safety Commission, he sponsored measures to restrict dangerous kerosene heaters in residences, set standards for smoke detector and fire alarms and establish minimum training standards for firefighters and supervisors. He was responsible for creation of the Division of Developmentally Disabled and authored legislation to break down barriers for the establishment of group homes for the mentally retarded in any community zone. His efforts in the public health arena resulted in the popularly title “pooper scooper” law which originated in Nutley and was later adopted throughout the state, the nation and the world.

Carmen Orechio’s decision to enter a life of pubic service followed a family tradition. His brothers Carl and Frank had also dedicated their lives to serving the public, Carl as a former assemblyman and chairman of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission and Frank as project coordinator and former chairman with NJDWSC and a member of the State Racing Commission and the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission. Carmen Orechio frequently told people that it was because of his brothers that he chose to enter the public arena.